Anteaters try to capitalize on 2007

The UC Irvine baseball program has been tabbed No. 2 among the “Top 10 Rising Programs,” by Rivals.com.

In his third season as head coach, Dave Serrano’s Anteaters earned their second NCAA berth in three years after winning 13 regular-season series and placing second in the Big West Conference.

UCI made its first Division I College World Series appearance after the team posted an unblemished 5-0 record in regional and super regional action.

In Omaha, UC Irvine became the first team to win back-to-back, extra-inning games, including emerging victorious from the longest game played in the 61-year history of the CWS when the Anteaters defeated Cal State Fullerton in five hours, 40 minutes.

UCI then defeated Arizona State, 8-7, with a walk-off hit in the 10th inning prior to losing to eventual national champion Oregon State the next evening.

Serrano was named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America and the Anteaters finished with the most wins in UCI’s Division I history with 47 while earning the program’s highest national ranking of fourth.

Hoping to capitalize on its watershed campaign, UCI is accepting season-ticket orders for the 2008. In addition, prospective season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to select their location at “Pick-Your-Seat Day” Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark.

Fans will have the chance to enjoy light refreshments, tour the ballpark and meet UCI coaches, players and staff.

Season-ticket orders are now being accepted at (949) 824-6202. Those who order their 2008 season tickets on or before Thursday will receive a commemorative UCI hat with the College World Series logo dislayed on one side.

Seats will be filled based on the order in which ticket orders are received. Fans who wish to purchase season tickets at Thursday’s event will be able to place their order and select their seating location after all pre-orders are filled. Those who are unable to attend “Pick-Your-Seat Day” will be assigned the best available location by the UCI ticketing staff.

Information on “Pick-Your-Seat Day” may be obtained by calling (949) 824-5550.

Serrano guided the Anteaters to a 47-17-1 record last season.UCI’s road to Omaha included winning the Round Rock Regional, where the Anteaters defeated host Texas twice.

The Anteaters then claimed the Wichita Super Regional with consecutive victories over the host Shockers.

The 47 victories in 2007 set a UCI single-season record at the Division I level.

— From staff reports