PACWEST BASEBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
IRVINE, Calif. -- A nearly perfect game for Ben Kaser helped Academy of Art get a three-game winning streak this week to highlight another strong week of PacWest baseball.
Kaser faced the minimum number of batters in a seven-inning no-hitter in which he needed only 57 pitches and struck out five batters in a 1-0 victory. The Urban Knights won each of their last three games against Simpson.
Azusa Pacific earned its third sweep of the season to tie the program record for best start to a season at 10-0. The Cougars scored a combined 25 runs in their two wins over Cal State San Bernardino. Grant Gamble led the team in hits, going 4 for 6 with two runs, two RBIs and a home run.
California Baptist has the second-longest winning streak in the PacWest at five to bounce back from its season-opening loss. Last week, the Lancers had a three-game sweep against Colorado Christian at home. In the finale, Billy Rockefeller went 3 for 5 with three runs to lead the Lancers to an 11-1 victory.
Hawai`i Hilo got a four-game sweep of Saint Martin’s as Phillip Steering went 7 for 10 in the final two games, recording four extra-base hits. The four-consecutive wins put the Vulcans back to an even record at 4-4.
Hawai`i Pacific won three of its four games against Saint Martin’s to improve to 6-2 on the season. The Sharks are one of five teams with an active winning streak of at least three games. Ten of the 11 PacWest teams already have at least three wins this year.
Conference play begins this week with two games on Thursday as Azusa Pacific hosts Concordia and Fresno Pacific visits Academy of Art.
Concordia opened the season with one of the toughest schedules of any team in the West Region and it won’t get any easier as the Eagles go to Azusa Pacific for a three-game series. In Thursday’s game, Azusa Pacific will try to break the program record for longest winning streak to start a season.
Academy of Art is looking to build on its three-game winning streak as the Urban Knights host Fresno Pacific, which didn’t play last week. The Sunbirds are 3-3 on the season, including a win over nationally-ranked Chico State. It will be a four-game series that finishes with a doubleheader on Saturday.
Preseason favorite California Baptist will wait another week to start the conference season as the Lancers host No. 3 Colorado Mesa for a four-game series. The Mavericks are on a four-game winning streak after sweeping Dixie State, while California Baptist has its own five-game streak.
Weekly Awards for the week of Feb. 12-18
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Phillip Steering, Hawai`i Hilo
1B, Sr., 6-1 -- Lake Forest, Calif.
Steering helped the Vulcans wrap up a four-game sweep of Saint Martin’s by going 7 for 10 at the plate in the final two games. The senior went 4 for 4 in the third game of the series with a double, home run and three RBIs. The next game, Steering doubled twice and scored twice as he went 3 for 6 with two RBIs. In the second game of the series, Steering walked twice and scored once. He now has a .355 batting average on the season. Four of his seven hits went for extra bases as the Vulcans improved to 4-4 on the season.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ben Kaser, Academy of Art
RHP, Jr., 6-2 -- Van Nuys, Calif.
Kaser threw a complete-game no-hitter, facing the minimum number of batters to lead Academy of Art to a 1-0 victory over Simpson. Kaser needed only 57 pitches to throw the seven-inning no-hitter. He struck out five batters in the victory and had no walks. The only batter to reach base was on a hit by pitch to lead off the seventh inning, breaking up the perfect game. Two batters later, Kaser forced a double play to finish the victory.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Colton Combs, Holy Names
OF, Sr., 6-0 -- Racho Cucamonga, Calif.
Combs went 9 for 14 last week as Holy Names took two of three games against Oregon Tech. The freshman had three multi-hit games with eight singles and a double. Combs got his first career hit in the series opener and finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBIs. In the night cap, Combs went 3 for 4 and scored a run. In the final game of the series, the freshman went 4 for 6 with a double, RBI and three runs as the Hawks claimed a 14-10 victory. He led the league in batting average for the week and is now batting .409 on the season.