Big West kings UCI’s Cassel

UC Irvine’s Justin Cassel received a double dose of awards on Tuesday, as the junior was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week and Collegiate Baseball “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week.

Cassel struck out a career-best 15 batters in a 12-2 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Friday night. The junior pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and one walk for his fourth win of the season.

Chris Lopez came on to strike out the last batter of the game, matching the best Anteaters’ pitching performance in a game, strikeout-wise, since a 2002 game against Cal State Northridge.

With the victory, Cassel improved his record to 4-7 this season, picking up his first win of the year in Big West Conference play. The right-hander has made 12 starts, pitching 86 innings ? second-most in the conference ? compiling a 4.08 earned-run average.

Cassel, who has been Coach Dave Serrano’s Friday night starter all season, leads UCI with 71 strikeouts this season against 15 walks. His 71 strikeouts are fourth-best in the Big West Conference.

The Anteaters went on to win the series against UC Santa Barbara and have a 24-17 record, 5-7 in conference. UCI is in fifth place in the Big West standings.

The team is taking the week off from Big West play for four nonconference matchups. After Tuesday’s game against the University of San Diego, the Anteaters travel to UC Davis for a three-game series that begins Friday.

The Aggies will become a Big West Conference member in the 2007-08 season.

Cassel’s award is the fourth conference honor this season for the Anteaters and the first from Collegiate Baseball in 2006.dpt-bigwest26.IMGGraphicInfoC21QARR920060426C21QARR9No Captiondpt.26-cassel-CPhotoInfoQ51QARDJ20060426ix11y3knMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)UC Irvine junior pitcher Justin Cassel