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Baseball:
Scott Gorgen Named First-Team All-American; Eric Pettis Earns Second-Team Honors
June 11, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. --- Pitcher Scott Gorgen (Concord/Clayton Valley HS) was voted a first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and Rivals.com while Eric Pettis (West Hills/El Camino Real HS) was tabbed a second-team All-American by the NCBWA. Gorgen concluded his junior year with a 12-3 record and compiled a 2.26 ERA. The standout held opposing teams to a sub-.200 average the entire 2008 campaign and finished with a .180 opposing average. Gorgen became UCI's all-time strikeout leader, accomplishing the feat in just three seasons and became the first Anteater to record back-to-back seasons of 100 strikeouts or more. The right-hander fanned 123 batters in 115.2 innings while allowing just 29 earned runs on 72 hits. A fourth-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals, Gorgen also was tabbed UCI's first Big West Pitcher of the Year to bookend a career that began with conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors in 2006. Is it the second time Gorgen has earned All-America honors from both the NCBWA and Rivals.com in his career. Pettis was tabbed a second-team honoree after tying the UC Irvine single-season record of 17 saves. The sophomore standout finished the season with a 4-3 record and 2.62 ERA. Pettis struck out 50 batters in 44.2 innings and was one of five finalists for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award, given to college baseball's top closer. Pettis made 31 appearances for UCI to finish third in the season annals and with 17 saves is already second in the career records. It is the first All-America honor for Pettis. UC Irvine concluded the season with a 42-18 record, becoming just the second UCI team to reach 40 wins in a season since becoming a Division I program in 1977-78. The Anteaters made their third consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason and fourth overall in seven years.
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