UCI’s Morales tabbed for special watch list

UC Irvine junior Andrew Morales has been named to the initial College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Pitcher of the Year watch list.

The right-hander is second in the nation at 8-0 and his 1.56 earned-run average ranks 47th in the nation and third in the Big West.

Morales started the year with two wins in relief before winning five consecutive starts. He has a 14 1/3 scoreless-innings streak after back-to-back wins over Hawaii and Cal State Northridge.

Morales has struck out 43 in 52 innings and is holding opposing teams to a .220 average.

— From staff reports