UC-Riverside Soph Makes Name For Himself in Big West

Feb. 14, 2006

For Immediate Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- UC Riverside sophomore James Simmons was selected the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week for the week of January 30-February 5, it was announced today. Simmons earns his second career Pitcher of the Week award and nabs this season’s opening honor.

Simmons, a 6-3 righthander from Norco, led the weekend charge on the mound for UCR, striking out a career-high 10 in an 8-0 win Friday against the University of San Francisco. Simmons allowed just five hits and one walk over seven innings.

After giving up back-to-back one-out singles in the first, he struck out the next two batters to end the threat. He punched out seven hitters in the first four innings before leaving after the seventh with UCR comfortably ahead 6-0.

Simmons was previously named the Big West Pitcher of the Week for the week of February 7-14, 2005. The Highlanders went on to sweep the Dons, taking the series by scores of 8-0, 7-0, and 9-7.

UCR closes out a seven-game home stand with four contests this week. The Highlanders host USC on Tuesday at 5 p.m., then welcome Arizona to the Riverside Sports Complex for a three-game weekend set. The game times are 5 p.m. for Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.