Cipriano named ‘Eaters’ MVP

Junior second baseman Cody Cipriano was named Most Valuable Player at the UC Irvine baseball team’s recent banquet.

Cipriano received the top award among six given to five players.

Junior Justin Cassel was named Most Valuable Pitcher.

Senior Glenn Swanson was named Best Teammate, an award that will be named for him in subsequent years.

Freshman shortstop Ben Orloff was honored twice. He was named Best Defensive Player and also the recipient of the Hustle-Attitude-Mentality award.

Sophomore catcher Aaron Lowenstein was named Most Improved Player.

Cipriano, a second-team All-Big West Conference honoree, hit a team-leading .354 with four home runs and 36 RBIs. He led the team in hits (68), doubles (18), slugging percentage (.521) and on-base percentage (.455). His 16 stolen bases ranked second on the team.

Cassel, drafted in the seventh round (225th overall) by the Chicago White Sox, was 7-9 with a 3.43 ERA as the Anteaters’ Friday night starter. He fanned 99 in 134 innings.

Swanson, a fifth-year senior who signed with the Texas Rangers, was 9-4 with a 2.86 ERA. He earned the school career strikeout record (298) and his 25 career wins are tied for fourth in school annals.

Swanson became the only Anteater to throw a nine-inning no-hitter when he accomplished the feat against the University of San Diego. He struck out 14 in that game.

Orloff, who shifted from second base to shortstop early in the conference season, finished with a .965 fielding percentage. He hit .217 with 16 RBIs and led the team in sacrifice hits with 26.

Lowenstein, who became the Anteaters’ primary catcher, hit .246 with 12 RBIs. He had a .986 fielding percentage, appearing in 58 games and starting 43.

UCI earned its second NCAA Tournament berth in three years and finished the season 36-24.

The Anteaters posted a nine-game win streak, the longest in UC Irvine’s Division I history. UCI set team records for stolen bases (107) and sacrifice hits (90).

The ‘Eaters’ third-place finish in the Big West is the school’s best since it reinstated the program in 2002.dpt-ucibaseawrds.IMGGraphicInfoKF1SDLRJ20060628KF1SDLRJNo Captiondpt.28-cody_cipriano-BPhotoInfo9L1SDEE520060628iyo57kncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Cody Cipriano, who hit .354 with four home runs, 36 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season, was named the UC Irvine baseball team’s Most Valuable Player.