Brock was inserted into the weekend rotation during Bibona's absence and used those three starts to not only solidify himself as a valued contributor, but also provide glimpses that he is a future star.
In his last three starts, he has produced a 2.79 earned-run average over 19 1/3 innings. He has allowed 15 hits, walked six and struck out 16 while winning his only decision in that stretch.
For the season, the right-hander out of Ayala High in Chino Hills is 5-4 with a 3.00 ERA. Even more impressively, he has allowed just 27 hits in 57 innings. He has struck out 55 and walked 30, but has shown improved control recently.
Brock pitched 2 1/3 innings Friday against LSU, yielding no hits and one run while walking one and striking out two.
Gillespie said if UCI survives its first elimination game today, it would start "Superman" in the second game today.
"That would be Eric Pettis," Gillespie said of the rubber-armed senior All-American who has 40 career saves, and is 9-3 this season. Pettis has six saves in 2010, but his primary role has been as the Sunday starter. His 120 1/3 innings this season lead all Big West Conference hurlers and rank among the national leaders.
Gillespie said he and his staff would talk with his staff about the pitching plan for a possible regional championship game Monday when and if the Anteaters made it that far.
That plan, Gillespie said Saturday, might include either senior Christian Bergman or Bibona taking the ball for at least a limited number of innings.
Bergman, Saturday's winner, was lifted after five innings to preserve his possible availability for later in the regional. He threw 78 pitches while improving to 9-3.
Bibona threw 67 pitches Friday against LSU and was, reportedly spent when he was lifted after 4 1/3 innings of his first appearance since May 7.
Gillespie said the plan coming in was to use Bibona once in the regional. But that might change, he admitted.
