This Week in the Big West - May 7-13, 2012

5/7/2012

The Big West Track Championships continue on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 with the team and individual events, wrapping the Spring Championships season.  Meanwhile, it's NCAA time for three-time Big West champion UC Davis women's golf, back-to-back Big West champs Long Beach State women's tennis, and four-time Big West Tournament champion UC Irvine women's water polo, and softball enters the final week of the regular season with a close race for the title.

Baseball

The final weeks of the 2011-12 season heat up as Cal State Fullerton (12-3) tries to hold on for another Big West title, with rivals Long Beach State (11-4) and UC Irvine (11-7) close behind.

Cal State Fullerton won its fifth straight conference series and second by sweep after a successful foray to Pacific last week.  The Titans (30-14, 12-3) emerged with a one game lead over second place Long Beach State (24-21, 11-4), which strayed from Big West play and competed against non-conference foe Loyola Marymount.  Nine conference games are left to play for the two title chasers that are jockeying for position prior to the final weekend of Big West action.  Anticipation is high for the May 25-27 series at Blair Field when Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State lock horns.

UC Irvine (27-17, 11-7) remains in the hunt for the championship but needs help in the form of late season slumps from the Titans and Dirtbags.  The Anteaters have a favorable schedule on paper with their final two Big West series on the road against sixth place Cal State Northridge and seventh place UC Davis, respectively.

Once again, select home contests will be broadcast by institutions on BigWest.TV, the conference's video streaming initiative in partnership with CBS College Sports.

Baseball Weekly Release #13


Golf

Three-time Big West champs UC Davis head to Erie, Colorado to take part in the NCAA Regionals beginning on Thursday, May 10.

Women's Golf NCAA Regional Preview

NCAA Women's Golf Regional Central


Softball

The final week of the regular season is here, with league-leading Long Beach State (14-4) hosting a critical series against defending champs Pacific (12-6).  UC Davis (12-6) is also in the hunt for the conference crown and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Long Beach State’s double-header against Pacific will be televised on Friday, May 11 set to air at 1:00 and 3:00.  ESPN3 will broadcast both games of Saturday’s doubleheader. Mark Neely handles play-by-play duties while Garland Cooper provides color commentary.  In collaboration with ESPN and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Big West Conference launched a ten-game distribution package on ESPN3 this past Fall.

Once again, select home contests will be broadcast by institutions on BigWest.TV, the conference's video streaming initiative in partnership with CBS College Sports.

Softball Weekly Release #14


Tennis

Back-to-back Big West Women's Tennis champs Long Beach State head to the NCAA Tournament this weekend, facing Arkansas on Friday, May 11 at 10:00 a.m. PT at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

NCAA Women's Tennis Championships Preview

NCA A Women's Tennis Championships Central


Track & Field

The 2012 Big West Track & Field Championships continue with the team and individual championships May 11-12 at UC Irvine.  Barbara Nwaba and Derek Masterson of UC Santa Barbara were the first athletes to take home championships this season, winning the heptathlon and decathlon last weekend.

Track & Field Championships Preview

Big West Track & Field Championships Central


Women's Water Polo

Four-time Big West Tournament champs UC Irvine head to their second-straight NCAA Tournament seeded fourth overall in the field.  The Anteaters will open against fifth-seeded Loyola Marymount on Friday, May 11 at 5:15 p.m. PT at the Aztec Aquaplex on the campus of San Diego State.

NCAA Women's Water Polo NCAA Preview

NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship Central

UC Irvine NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship Central