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Briefs: UCI’s Spencer hot

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UC Irvine junior Connor Spencer was named Big West Conference Player of the Week after leading the Anteaters to four wins last week.

The first baseman was eight for 16 with a pair of doubles, a stolen base, five runs batted in and three runs scored. Three of Spencer’s hits drove in game-winning runs for the ‘Eaters, who entered Friday’s Big West Conference series at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 33-14, 14-1 in conference.

Against USC on April 29, Spencer snapped a 1-1 tie with a clutch single to drive in Grant Palmer for the go-ahead run. Spencer also stole third and plated the insurance run in that four-run seventh.

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Friday against UCSB, Spencer’s two-run double unlocked a 2-2 tie in an eventual 6-2 win.

After adding two hits to help UCI win the series Saturday, the junior delivered again Sunday with an RBI hit in the first to put UCI on the board in an 8-0 shutout.

Spencer, who had two hits in each of the last four games, entered Friday batting .382, but .424 in conference play. He also led the team with 37 RBIs.

It was the second time this season that Spencer has earned Player of the Week recognition.

— From staff reports

Fernandez All-Big West

UC Irvine junior Pete Fernandez was named first-team All-Big West Conference in men’s golf.

Fernandez leads the Anteaters with a 72.91 scoring average and six top-10 finishes this season. He earned second-team recognition in 2013 and 2012.’

Fernandez will compete individually in the NCAA Regional, May 15-17 at the Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.

UCI senior Ryan Knapp, an Estancia High and Orange Coast College product, received honorable mention.

— From staff reports

UCI thrower lauded

UC Irvine junior Itos Aikhionbare has earned the Big West Conference Field Athlete of the Week honor after her record-setting performance Saturday.

Aikhionbare smashed the school record in the shot put by nearly two feet, winning the event with a mark of 53 feet, nine inches in the Steve Scott Invitational. The previous record was 51-9 3/4 by Alisha Misiaita in 2009.

Aikhionbare’s mark ranks No. 1 in the Big West this season, sixth in the West Region and 15th nationally.

She finished second in the discus throw Saturday with a mark of 160-0.

Aikhionbare ranks third in the Big West this season in the discus with a mark of 167-11 at the Beach Invitational April 20.

She has won the shot put and discus in the same meet four times this season.

This is the second Big West weekly honor for Aikhionbare in 2014 and the fifth in her career.

— From staff reports

UCI’s Buckley shines

UC Irvine senior women’s basketball forward Camille Buckley helped the NetScouts USA All-Stars to a 9-0 record and three tournament titles over a three-city, 12-day China Tour.

Buckley, a first-team All-Big West Conference performer in 2013-14, produced 17 rebounds and 11 points in the American team’s 66-54 victory over China to secure the Jiujiang tournament championship.

Buckley was named to the Nan’an all-tournament team after compiling 30 points and 29 rebounds over three tournament games.

“My experience in China was something I won’t forget,” Buckley said upon returning. “The style of play over there is very different compared to the U.S., but I’ve never had so much fun playing basketball.”

— From staff reports

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