Etheridge's 10 strikeouts marked the 15th game this season that Anteater hurlers have reached double-digits in that department.
ROOKIES OF RENOWN
Freshman Christian Bergman pitched a perfect ninth inning Friday to complete the shutout and Coach Dave Serrano went out of his way to mention the contribution of the freshmen to the victory.
Freshman designated hitter Jeff Cusick singled in two runs in the first inning and finished two for three with three RBIs.
Freshman Luis Tovar had a pinch-hit, RBI single in the eighth inning, while freshman Sean Madigan, the team's designated hitter against right-handed starting pitchers, flied out as a pinch-hitter.
Cusick and Madigan have been big contributors all season. During the regular season, Madigan played in 40 games, hit .340 with seven doubles and 24 RBIs.
Cusick played in 37 regular-season games, hitting .325 with three home runs and 15 RBIs.
Cusick said he had no extra nerves making his first collegiate postseason start against Wake Forest.
"This game was no different than the [56 games] we've already played," Cusick said. "[Before my first-inning at-bat], I took a deep breath, and just tried to stay with my routine. And, I saw the guys before me were doing OK [four singles in the team's first five at-bats], so I just tried to build off that."
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
UCI sophomore second baseman Ben Orloff executed a sacrifice bunt to help set up the Anteaters' four-run first inning Friday. It was the 28th sacrifice of the season for Orloff, who leads the nation in that department. Orloff also led the nation last season with 26 sacrifice hits. He owns the school records for single-season and career sacrifice hits.
Even more impressive, Orloff, hitting .349 after Friday's win, has raised his average 132 points from last season.
Orloff also has 10 more extra-base hits than he did as a freshman, when he had none in 152 at-bats.
UCI'S MAN OF STEAL
