UCI has also thrown nine shutouts this season, including four in a row early in the season. The ’Eaters rank sixth nationally in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (8.4) and are No. 17 in strikeouts per nine innings (8.4).
Gillespie said Silva’s coaching personality, a mix of intensity, professionalism and humor, has helped UCI hurlers buy into his way of doing things, after having worked with previous pitching coach Dave Serrano. Serrano was also the Anteaters’ head coach until leaving after UCI’s run last season to the College World Series to take the helm at Cal State Fullerton.
Silva, too, learned much of his craft at Fullerton, where he was a talented and versatile pitcher from 1993-95. He was 18-1 with a 2.83 ERA and five saves as a junior in 1995, when he helped the Titans win their third national championship. He earned two victories in the College World Series that season, including the aforementioned triumph over Gillespie and USC.The 18 victories led the nation and are a school single-season record.
Silva was named first-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Assn., Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball and he was the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year.
After posting a combined 26-7 record, a 2.92 ERA and 26 saves in three collegiate seasons, he was drafted in the 21st round by the Texas Rangers. He spent five seasons in the minor leagues, then pitched one season in Taiwan and one in the independent Atlantic League.
He began his coaching career at Villa Park High in 2004, before returning to Cal State Fullerton as volunteer pitching coach in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the Titans, under Silva’s tutelage, posted a national-best 2.73 team ERA.
