College Roundup

BASEBALL

UC Irvine 6, Long Beach State 0 LONG BEACH — Senior Christian Bergman threw a complete-game shutout to extend his scoreless innings streak to 24 1/3 , and win his third straight Friday start in the opener of the final Big West Conference series at Blair Field.

Combined with Pacific’s 9-7 loss to Santa Barbara Friday, the win clinches sole possession of second place for the No. 23-ranked Anteaters (35-19, 15-7 in conference).

Bergman, filling in for injured All-American Danny Bibona (inflamed rib muscles) for the third straight week, allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked two.

UCI used four straight doubles by Drew Hillman, Jonathan Hurst, Ryan Fisher and D.J. Crumlich to key a four-run second inning.

Hurst went three for five with two runs batted in to lead the ‘Eaters’ 12-hit attack.

Hillman, an Orange Coast College product, Sean Madigan and Crumlich each had two hits and one RBI for the winners, who are now all but assured one of 64 berths into the NCAA Regionals, for which pairings will be announced Monday.

It was the second complete-game shutout this season for Bergman, who is now 8-3.

The 49ers fell to 23-30, 7-15.

The series continues today at 5:30 p.m.

TRACK & FIELD

NAIA Championships MARION, Ind. — Vanguard University senior Rebecca Sopp, who earned All-American honors by finishing fourth in the women’s 10,000 meters Thursday, advanced to the 5,000 final by finishing fifth in her heat Friday at Indiana Weslyan University.

Sopp finished in 18 minutes, 14.83 seconds in the 5,000 and will compete in today’s final. Her time in the 10,000 was 36:40.98. The fourth-place finish was her career best at nationals and it was the fourth time she earned All-American recognition.

Junior Christian de Gymes was seventh in the men’s 10,000 Thursday, but failed to advance in the 5,000 preliminaries contested Friday.

The Lions’ Megan Williams was third in her women’s 5,000 heat (18:16.09) to advance Friday.

Senior Aze Perkins (men’s 110 high hurdles) competed, but did not advance Friday.

Emily Canales, Chelsea Van Cott (women’s) and Fernando Orozco (men’s) failed to advance Thursday in the 3,000 steeplechase.

Also competing today will be women’s high jumper Kelsie Davis, who was sixth last year, as well as men’s 200 semifinalist Elvis Whitelow.

The 200 final is also today.