PREVIEW:Anteaters hope to continue to rise

In what some viewed as an off year in 2006, Erickson went 5-0 with 13 saves, a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings. In three seasons, he is 7-5 with a 2.60 ERA and 160 stikeouts in 124 1/3 innings. He was drafted in the 10th round by the Cardinals last season, but declined to sign, hoping he could significantly up his value with a strong 2007 campaign.

Among Serrano's other options in the pen is junior Tommy Calahan, a junior transfer from Saddleback College, and freshman Eric Pettis.

"Calahan has been very tough on lefties and I'm very happy with the way he has come on," Serrano said.

Pettis, a starter at El Camino Real High, has been converted to a side-arm delivery. That, combined with what Serrano called a bulldog mentality, make him a closer of the future.

The pen will also include senior Gary Nakashima (2-2 with three saves and a 4.33 ERA in 54 innings last spring), Chris Lopez, Christian Bergman, Cory Hamilton, Justin LaTempa and Reid Suitor.

Serrano said Nakashima, Bergman, Hamilton, La Tempa and Suitor could see spot starts, particularly during Tuesday games.

Kyle Necke, 1-1 with four saves and a 2.49 ERA in 24 relief innings as a freshman in 2006, will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Coaches picked the Anteaters to finish behind Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside, respectively, and ahead of perennial power Long Beach State. Last year's third-place conference finish was the best in UCI's Division I history.

The Anteaters open the season Friday in the first of a three-game series at Cal.

They open their home schedule Feb. 9 with the first of a three-game set against Loyola Marymount.

COVERING THE BASES

2006 record: 36-24, 11-10 in conference (third place)

Coach: Dave Serrano, third year (67-49)

Key losses: RHP Justin Cassel (7-9, 3.43 ERA): LHP Glenn Swanson (9-4, 2.86 ERA, 298 strikeouts a school career record); 1B Jaime Martinez (.278, eight homers, 45 RBIs; 21 homers are school career record), OF Gary Dudrey (.331, 24 steals, 35 runs), 3B Chad Lundahl (.271, 18 RBIs, 27 runs).

Top returners: 2B Cody Cipriano, RHP Scott Gorgen, OF Taylor Holiday, RHP Blair Erickson, 1B-DH Zach Robinson.

Noteworthy newcomers: RHP Daniel Bibona, Fr.; LHP Tommy Calahan, Jr.; RHP Eric Pettis, Fr.; 1B Tony Asaro, So.; C Francis Larson, Fr.; OF Nick Baligod, Fr.; RHP Reid Suitor, Fr.

Big series: March 30, 31, April 1 vs. Long Beach State (home); March 5-7 at Cal State Fullerton; May 25-27 at UC Riverside.

THE ANTEATERS

1 Ollie Linton So.

2 Bryan Petersen Jr.

3 Luis Tovar Fr.

4 Wes Etheridge Jr.

5 Cody Cipriano Sr.

6 Ben Orloff So.

7 S. Donabedian So.

8 Josh Tavelli Sr.

10 Tyler Vaughn Jr.

11 Chris Lopez Jr.

12 Matt Morris Sr.

14 Jeffrey Cusick Fr.

15 Dillon Bell Fr.

16 Brock Bardeen So.

17 Kyle Necke So.

20 Francis Larson Fr.

21 C. Bergman Fr.

24 Taylor Holiday Jr.

25 Cory Hamilton Fr.

26 Cole Hathcock Fr.

28 Dylan Axelrod Sr.

29 Sean Madigan Fr.

30 Daniel Bibona Fr.

31 Blair Erickson Sr.

32 Scott Gorgen So.

33 G. Nakashima Sr.

34 T. Calahan Jr.

35 Zach Robinson Sr.

36 Ryan Fisher Fr.

37 Nick Farinacci Fr.

41 R. Cardenas Fr.

42 A. Lowenstein Jr.

43 Nick Baligod Fr.

44 J. LaTempa So.

50 Reid Suitor Fr.

53 Tony Asaro So.

55 Eric Pettis Fr.

Coach: Dave Serrano

(third year)