University of California Athletics

April 19, 2000

BEAR NOTES: The 2000 California baseball team (20-20, 8-7 Pac-10) won two-of-three games Apr. 14-16 versus No. 16 ranked USC (lost 6-5, won 9-5, won 4-3) at Evans Diamond ... the Bears have now won nine of their last 13 games and it was the first time that Cal had won a series against USC since Apr. 11-13, 1997 in Berkeley.

Junior first baseman Clint Hoover (Moraga, CA) earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors for his efforts against the Trojans ... in the Bears three-game series versus USC, Hoover was 7-for-12 (.583) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI ... On Apr. 14, he was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer ... On Apr. 15, Hoover was 2-for-3 with two doubles ... then on Apr. 16, he had a two-run single in the first inning and then tied the game, 3-3, with a first pitch, lead-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning ... Hoover had three of the Bears four RBI in Sunday's 4-3 win ... he is now seventh on the Cal all-time career home run list (27).

Another highlight was junior third baseman Xavier Nady (Salinas, CA) breaking the school home run record with a lead-off homer in the ninth inning Apr. 14 ... Nady's homer was the 51st of his college career, which broke the Cal school record of 50 career home runs set by Troy Penix from 1990-92.

Another player who was outstanding against the Trojans was freshman left fielder David Weiner (Los Angeles, CA), who 6-for-14 with a home run and five RBI in the series ... Weiner helped the Bears to the 9-5 win Saturday, breaking a 5-5 tie by hitting a two-run homer in the eighth inning ... then on Sunday, he had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

Senior right-hander Jon Shirley (Bakersfield, CA) got a no decision Apr. 16 versus USC (6.0 innings, five hits, two earned runs, four walks), but with a season-high nine strikeouts against the Trojans, he is now second on the Cal all-time strikeout list with 261 K's, behind only Doug Weiss' 275 strikeouts from 1955-57 ... in his last five outings, he has thrown 23.0 innings with 16 hits, six earned runs, eight walks and 31 strikeouts.

Senior right-handed submarine pitcher Jon Cuccias (Woodland Hills, CA) has also pitched well lately ... in Cuccias last seven outings, he has thrown 15.0 innings with five hits, no runs, five walks and eight strikeouts, and is now second on the Cal all-time appearance list with 108 games, only two appearances short of breaking the school record of 109 games set by Alex Franklin from 1993-95 ...

ADDITIONAL CAL NOTES: The Bears have hit 56 home runs this season, including a school-record four home runs in the seventh inning Feb. 2 at Santa Clara ... Nady has hit two grand slams, Feb. 19 at Pepperdine and Mar. 18 at Arizona ... the Bears have a team batting average of .290 and are hitting .314 as a team against Pac-10 competition ... Cal also scored an impressive 26 and 24 runs on 51 hits in two games Mar. 18-19 at Arizona, had 20 hits and three home runs Feb. 19 at Pepperdine and 18 hits and five home runs Feb. 2 at Santa Clara ... on the mound, Cal has maintained a respectable 4.80 team ERA, led by junior reliever Rob Meyer's (Antioch, CA) 0.95 ERA ... the Bears are also fourth in the nation in fielding percentage (.975) and have turned 42 double plays, mostly via junior shortstop Jason Williams (Fairfield, CA) and senior second baseman Tommy Callen (Burlingame, CA) ... the Bears are currently 7-10 against teams ranked in this week's Baseball America Top 25 poll-No. 3 Arizona State (1-2), No. 4 Stanford (0-3), No. 5 Texas (1-2), No. 18 Fresno State (1-0), No. 20 Long Beach State (1-2), No. 22 Cal State Fullerton (2-1) and No. 23 Wichita State (1-0) ...

RADIO: KALX Radio (90.7 FM) will broadcast the Apr. 20-22 Oregon State-Cal games...the David Esquer Show will air 10 minutes before the first pitch...SERIES RECORD: Cal has a 21-9 overall series record against the Oregon State Beavers...last season, the Bears won two-of-three games Apr. 16-18 at OSU (won 13-3, lost 11-5, won 7-6) ...

HEAD COACH DAVID ESQUER: The Bears coach is in his first season at Cal and has a career record of 20-20 (.500) ... Esquer, 34, became only the 10th coach in the long history of Cal baseball, which began in 1892, when he was hired June 10, 1999 ... Esquer replaced longtime Bear mentor Bob Milano, who retired May 17 after 22 years as the Bears head coach and 29 years involved in the Cal baseball program ... Esquer comes to Berkeley after serving as the top assistant at Pepperdine since 1996 ... prior to working at Pepperdine, he was the No. 2 assistant coach at Stanford under Mark Marquess from 1991-96 ... a shortstop at Stanford from 1984-87, Esquer was a starter on Stanford's 1987 College World Series championship team, earning All-Tournament honors after hitting .350 with six RBI in Omaha ... he also earned All-Pac-10 Southern Division honors as a senior and went on to play professional baseball for four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, California Angels and Milwaukee Brewers organizations ...

PAC-10 RACE (as of Apr. 18)

PLAYER NOTES

DAVID CASH: Is 6-3 with a 4.88 ERA ... leads the team in appearances (21) and wins (six) ... has 48 strikeouts in 51.7 innings ... earned win Apr. 15 vs. USC (3.0 innings, two hits, no earned runs, two walks, two strikeouts) ... started Apr. 4 vs. Saint Mary's, pitching a Cal career-high 7.0 innings (six hits, two runs, two walks) with a career-high seven strikeouts ... also earned wins Feb. 4 vs. Loyola Marymount (1.0 inning, no hits, no runs), Feb. 11 at Long Beach State (2.0 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts), Mar. 11 vs. CS Fullerton (1.0 inning, one strikeout) and Mar. 26 vs. Arizona State (5.7 innings, six hits, one run, one walk, five strikeouts) ... picked up two saves vs. OSU last year, Apr. 16 (3.0 innings, two hits, no runs) and Apr. 18 (1.0 inning, no hits, no runs, two strikeouts) ...

JON CUCCIAS: Is 2-0 with a 5.19 ERA ... is now second on the Cal all-time appearance list with 108 games (fifth-best in Pac-10 history), only two appearances short of breaking the school record of 109 games set by Alex Franklin from 1993-95 ... in last seven outings, has thrown 15.0 innings with five hits, no runs, five walks and eight strikeouts ... picked up win Apr. 16 vs. USC, pitching the final 3.0 innings (one hit, no runs, one walk, two strikeouts) ... pitched well Apr. 7 and Apr. 8 at No. 2 Texas (total 5.7 innings, two hits, no runs, three walks, two strikeouts) ...

CLINT HOOVER: Is batting .314 (team-leading .388 vs. Pac-10) with 11 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 36 RBI ... is seventh on the Cal all-time career home run list (27) ... was named last week's Pac-10 Player of the Week after going 7-for-12 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in the USC series ... on Apr. 16 vs. USC, had a two-run single in the first inning and tied the game with a lead-off homer in the ninth inning ... was 7-for-18 with a triple, three home runs and nine RBI Mar. 28-Apr. 2 at Wichita State and Washington ... hit the game-winning three-run homer Mar. 28 at Wichita State ... went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI Apr. 4 vs. Saint Mary's ... went 9-for-17 (.529) with two doubles, a triple and three RBI Mar. 17-19 at Arizona ... was 5-for-14 with two home runs and four RBI Mar. 10-12 vs. Cal State Fullerton ... hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning Mar. 12 vs. CSF ... hit the game-winning homer in the 11th inning Mar. 3 vs. Washington State ... went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI Feb. 2 at Santa Clara ... has a .273 (3-for-11, HR, four RBI) career Pac-10 batting average vs. OSU ...

TREVOR HUTCHINSON: Is 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA (1-1, 3.56 ERA vs. Pac-10) and has 48 strikeouts in 71.3 innings ... last outing got no decision Apr. 15 vs. USC (6.0 innings, six hits, three earned runs, four walks, three strikeouts) ... got no decision Apr. 7 at Texas (3.0 innings, five hits, five earned runs, five walks, one strikeout) ... earned win Mar. 31 at Washington (7.0 innings, nine hits, one run, two walks, career-high eight strikeouts) ... got no decision Mar. 24 vs. Arizona State (7.0 innings, five hits, three runs, three walks, five strikeouts) ... earned win Mar. 10 vs. Cal State Fullerton (career-high 8.0 innings, six hits, four runs, two walks, four strikeouts) ... got no decision Mar. 3 vs. Washington State (6.0 innings, six hits, two runs, four walks, seven strikeouts) ... got no decision Feb. 11 at Long Beach State (7.0 innings, seven hits, three runs, two walks, four strikeouts) ... got no decision Feb. 4 vs. Loyola Marymount (6.0 innings, six hits, one run, one walk, four strikeouts) ... won season-opener Jan. 25 vs. USF (5.0 innings, six hits, three runs, three walks, two strikeouts)...is 1-0 with a 3.33 ERA (Apr. 18, 1999, 2.7 innings, two hits, one run, two walks, two strikeouts) career vs. OSU ... is slated to start Friday...

ROB MEYER: Is batting .310 (.349 vs. Pac-10) with six doubles, two home runs and 18 RBI ... is 2-0 with two saves and a 0.95 ERA (19.0 innings, 11 hits, two runs, nine strikeouts) on the mound ... was 4-for-12 with a double last week vs. USC ... went 3-for-11 Apr. 7-9 at Texas ... also picked up the save Apr. 11 vs. Santa Clara, pitching a perfect ninth inning ... went 6-for-16 with a double and two RBI Mar. 28-Apr. 2 at Wichita State and Washington ... earned save against the Shockers, pitching the ninth inning (one hit, one run, two walks) ... was 5-for-11 with a double and an RBI against Arizona State Mar. 24-26 ... concluded last season on a nine-game hitting streak and started this season on a six-game hitting streak for a career-high 15-game hitting streak (24-for-59, .407, 3-2B, 2-HR, 12 RBI) ... went 5-for-16 with a double and three RBI Mar. 17-19 at Arizona ... vs. Washington State Mar. 3-5 was 4-for-12 and pitched a total of 5.0 innings in two games (two hits, two strikeouts), earning the win in relief Mar. 3 (1.0 inning, one strikeout) ... Feb. 29 at Fresno State went 2-for-6 with an RBI and picked up the win in relief (2.0 innings, one hit, three walks) ... was 6-for-15 with a home run and three RBI Feb. 18-20 at Pepperdine ... was 3-for-4 with an RBI Feb. 6 vs. Loyola Marymount ... went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the season-opener Jan. 25 vs. San Francisco ... has a .167 (1-for-6) career Pac-10 batting average vs. OSU ...

XAVIER NADY: Is batting a team-leading .344 (.361 vs. Pac-10) with team-high 13 home runs and 44 RBI ... became the school's all-time career home run leader, hitting his 51st career homer (tied for seventh in Pac-10 history) Apr. 14 against USC (surpassing Troy Penix's 50 home runs, 1990-92) ... is also third on the Bears all-time RBI list (176) ... was 6-for-12 with a double, a home run and three RBI in the USC series ... went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer Apr. 11 vs. Santa Clara ... was 3-for-10 with a double Apr. 7-9 at Texas and was 3-for-11 with a home run and three RBI Mar. 31-Apr. 2 at Washington ... Mar. 17-19 at Arizona went 7-for-13 with three home runs and 11 RBI ... on Mar. 18 vs. UA was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a grand slam for a career-high seven RBI ... earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors for his exploits at Arizona ... was 5-for-13 with a home run Mar. 10-12 vs. Cal State Fullerton ... went 4-for-13 with a double, home run and two RBI Mar. 3-5 vs. Washington State ... was 5-15 with a double and a grand slam Feb. 18-20 at Pepperdine ... knocked in the game-winning RBI Feb. 4 and was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI Feb. 6 vs. Loyola Marymount ... has a .400 (6-for-15, 3-HR, eight RBI) career Pac-10 batting average vs. OSU ...

JON SHIRLEY: Is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA (1-0, 3.00 ERA vs. Pac-10) ... has 47 strikeouts in 47.0 innings and is second on the Cal all-time strikeout list with 261 K's, behind only Doug Weiss' 275 strikeouts (1955-57) ... in last outing got no decision Apr. 16 vs. USC (6.0 innings, five hits, two earned runs, four walks, season-high nine strikeouts) ... earned win Apr. 9 at No. 2 Texas (5.0 innings, five hits, one run on a balk, two walks, six strikeouts) ... earned win Apr. 2 at Washington (6.0 innings, five hits, two runs, no walks, six strikeouts) ... was outstanding in a start Mar. 28 at Wichita State (3.0 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk, four strikeouts) ... prior to Wichita State, had not pitched since Mar. 5 vs. Washington State (3.0 innings, one hit, one run, one walk, six strikeouts) after suffering soreness in his right tricep ... had struck out six of the nine batters he had faced against the Cougars ... lost Feb. 27 vs. Stanford (5.3 innings, nine hits, seven runs, one walk, six strikeouts) ... lost Feb. 20 at Pepperdine (5.0 innings, eight hits, five runs, two walks, two strikeouts) ... suffered the loss Feb. 13 at Long Beach State, pitching a season-high 7.0 innings (eight hits, three runs, one walk five strikeouts) ... has thrown five complete-games in his career ... is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA (6.0 innings, four hits, three runs, five walks, nine strikeouts) Pac-10 career vs. OSU ... is slated to start Saturday ...

ANDREW SPROUL: Is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA (second on the team) ... has 30 strikeouts in 36.7 innings ... picked up the win in relief Mar. 28 at Wichita State, throwing a career-high 5.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, two walks and tied a career-high five strikeouts ... picked up the win in last appearance Apr. 11 vs. Santa Clara (3.0 innings, five hits, no runs, one walk, three strikeouts) ... had five strikeouts in 2.0 innings Mar. 4 vs. Washington State ...

BRAD STEELE: Is 3-7 with a 5.17 ERA (1-3, 5.61 ERA vs. Pac-10) and a team-high 78.3 innings pitched ... suffered loss in last outing Apr. 14 vs. USC (6.7 innings, seven hits, six runs, five walks, three strikeouts) ... lost Apr. 8 at Texas (4.0 innings, seven hits, six runs, five walks, three strikeouts) ... lost Apr. 1 at Washington (5.3 innings, nine hits, six runs, four walks, four strikeouts) ... lost Mar. 25 vs. Arizona State (7.0 innings, eight hits, three earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts) ... earned win Mar. 18 at Arizona (5.7 innings, 11 hits, five runs, three walks, two strikeouts) ... got no decision Mar. 11 vs. Cal State Fullerton (7.0 innings, 11 hits, two earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts) ... got no decision Mar. 4 vs. Washington State, tying a career-high with 9.0 innings in an extra-inning contest (eight hits, two runs, two walks) with a career-high nine strikeouts ... threw first career complete-game in Feb. 19 win at Pepperdine (10 hits, four runs, two walks, four strikeouts) ... is 0-0 with a 7.30 ERA (3.7 innings, five hits, three earned runs, two walks, four strikeouts) Pac-10 career vs. OSU ... is slated to start Thursday ...

MIKE TONIS: Is batting .310 (.323 vs. Pac-10) with 14 doubles (team-high), 10 home runs and 32 RBI ... is fourth on the Cal all-time home run list (37) ... was 3-for-12 with a double, home run and three RBI vs. USC ... went 2-for-10 with an RBI Apr. 7-9 at Texas and was 1-for-3 with a home run Apr. 11 vs. Santa Clara ... went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI Mar. 28 at Wichita State and was 5-for-13 with a double, home run and two RBI Mar. 31-Apr. 2 at Washington ... had a team-high 14-game hitting streak this season (23-for-57, .404, seven doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI) from Mar. 10-Apr. 4 ... was 4-for-8 with three doubles against Arizona State Mar. 24-26 ... threw out five Sun Devil baserunners during the series, including three runners Mar. 26 ... went 7-for-14 with two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI Mar. 17-19 at Arizona ... Mar. 19 at UA was 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and a two-run homer ... went 4-for-13 with a home run and three RBI Mar. 10-12 vs. Cal State Fullerton ... was 6-for-14 with a double, home run and two RBI Feb. 18-20 at Pepperdine ... went 2-for-4 with two doubles Feb. 9 at Saint Mary's ... was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI Feb. 2 at Santa Clara ... has a .727 (8-for-11, 4-2B, HR, RBI) career Pac-10 batting average vs. OSU ...

DAVID WEINER: Freshman left fielder is batting .317 with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and 17 RBI ... is hitting .367 (second on the team) vs. Pac-10 ... went 6-for-14 with a home run and five RBI in the USC series ... helped the Bears to the 9-5 win Apr. 15, breaking a 5-5 tie by hitting a two-run homer in the eighth inning ... had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth Apr. 16 vs. USC ... was 5-for-15 with two RBI Apr. 7-9 at Texas ... went 3-for-6 with two RBI Apr. 4 vs. Saint Mary's ... had a career-high seven-game hitting streak from Mar. 31-Apr. 9 (12-for-34, .353, 2B, five RBI) ... was 7-for-16 with a double, triple, home run and five RBI Mar. 17-19 at Arizona ...

PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Junior third baseman Xavier Nady (Salinas, CA) is the Preseason National Player of the Year and a first team Preseason All-American by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball after hitting 40 home runs last year (school record 23 for Cal in the spring and 17 for the USA National Team during the summer) ... Nady, selected Baseball America's 1999 Summer Player of the Year, is also projected to be next June's No. 1 pick in the Amateur Draft by the baseball publication ... fellow USA National Team member, junior catcher Mike Tonis (Elk Grove, CA), is a second team Preseason All-American in Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball ...

OREGON STATE: The Oregon State Beavers, coached by Pat Casey (sixth year at OSU, 170-119-4, .587), are currently 21-18 and 3-6, winning two-of-three Apr. 14-16 vs. Arizona (won 6-3, won 10-4, lost 10-5) and defeating Concordina, 13-5, Tuesday at Coleman Field ... top hitters for the Beavers are senior left fielder Drew Hedges (.402, 6 HR, 29 RBI), senior first baseman Joe Gerber (.400, 5 HR, 53 RBI) and freshman third baseman Brian Barden (.370, 4 HR, 31 RBI) ... OSU's tentative pitching rotation is junior right-hander Thad Johnson (3-3, 3.97 ERA), junior left-hander Scott Nicholson (6-4, 4.08 ERA) and senior right-hander James Atwood (3-4, 6.69 ERA)