BRIEFS

UCI’s DEPAUL HONORED

UC Irvine freshman Lyndsay DePaul, who won the 200-yard individual medley, the 400 IM and the 200 butterfly at last week’s Big West Conference Championships, was named Female Swimmer of the Year in the conference.

In addition, she has been named National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com.

DePaul also contributed to the Anteaters’ winning 200 medley relay to help UCI finish third in the team standings at Belmont Plaza.

Her time in the 400 IM (4 minutes, 14.25 seconds) ranked 10th nationally this year. Her times in the 200 IM (2:00.39) and the 400 IM automatically qualify her for the NCAA Championships later this month in Minneapolis. She will also swim the 200 fly at the NCAA meet.

UCI’S ERICKSON LAUDED

UC Irvine senior pitcher Blair Erickson was named Big West Pitcher of the Week after recording three saves in four games from Feb. 20-25 and tying the Big West Conference career saves mark with 46.

Over three appearances, Erickson struck out seven in 2 2/3 hitless, scoreless innings.

He shares the conference record with Long Beach State’s Gabe Gonzalez, who set the record from 1992-95.

Erickson struck out the side against USC to close a 6-3 win Feb. 20.

Feb. 24, he issued a walk between a pair of strikeouts as UCI secured the series against Utah.

Feb. 25, Erickson entered with one out in the ninth with runners on first and third. After loading the bases with a hit batsman, Erickson struck out the final two batters to end the Utes’ threat.