UC Irvine Anteaters baseball

American college baseball team

UC Irvine Anteaters

2025 UC Irvine Anteaters baseball team
Founded| 1970
University| University of California, Irvine
Head coach| Ben Orloff (7th season)
Conference| Big West
Location| Irvine, California
Home stadium| Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark
(Capacity: 2,900)
Nickname| Anteaters
Colors| Blue and gold[1]

NCAA Tournament champions
1973*, 1974*
College World Series appearances
1973*, 1974*, 2007, 2014
NCAA regional champions
1973*, 1974*, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014
NCAA Tournament appearances
1970*, 1971*, 1972*, 1973*, 1974*, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2021, 2024
*at Division II level

Regular season conference champions
2009, 2021

The UC Irvine Anteaters baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of the University of California, Irvine. The team's home venue is Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark located on campus in Irvine, California. UC Irvine baseball has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big West Conference since the start of the 2002 season which was the Anteaters' first season of play following the university's decision to revive its baseball program following the sport's discontinuation in 1992.

The Anteaters won the College Division national championship in 1973 and the Division II national championship in 1974. Since moving to Division I play they have appeared in the NCAA tournament ten times and the College World Series twice.

## History

[edit]

### College Division/Division II

[edit]

The program was founded prior to the 1970 season and initially played as an independent school in the NCAA College Division, made up of small-school athletic programs.[2] Under head coach Gary Adams, the team qualified for the College Division Tournament in 1970, 1971, and 1972. In 1973, the team ended the regular season with a twelve-game winning streak and again qualified for the tournament. After advancing to the College Division Championship, it defeated Missouri-St. Louis, Eastern Illinois, and Ithaca twice to win a national championship.[3]

In August 1973, the NCAA reorganized its divisions. Prior to then, the NCAA had competed in two divisions, a large-school University Division and a small-school College Division. Following the reorganization, the University Division became Division I, while the College Division split into Division II and Division III. UC Irvine, formerly an independent in the College Division, became a Division II Independent.[2]

In the first season of Division II, the team again won its regional tournament to advance to the Division II Championship. There, the program defeated New Orleans to win its second consecutive national championship.[3] Following the 1974 season, Gary Adams left UC Irvine to become the head coach at UCLA.[4]

UC Irvine continued to play in Division II until following the 1977 season, though it did not qualify for another NCAA tournament.[3]

### Transition to Division I

[edit]

Prior to the 1978 season, the program joined the newly formed Division I Southern California Baseball Association (SCBA).[5] Former Gonzaga head coach Steve Hertz became the program's head coach prior to the 1979 season, in which the team finished 7th in the SCBA. In 1980, UC Irvine finished second behind Cal State Fullerton, its best season in the SCBA.[6][7][8]

When Steve Hertz returned to Gonzaga following the 1980 season, Mike Gerakos became the program's head coach.[3][9] The team continued to play in the SCBA, though it finished no higher than third until the conference disbanded following the 1984 season. UC Irvine then became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, which was renamed the Big West Conference prior to the 1987 season. UC Irvine had a winning conference record only twice in eight PCAA/Big West seasons through the end of the 1992 season.[3]

Following the 1992 season, state budget cuts caused the university to cut several sports programs, including baseball. At the time it was discontinued, the program had a 643-565-17 record.[10][11][12]

### Program revival

[edit]

In 2000, the university announced plans to revive the varsity baseball program and build a multimillion-dollar on-campus venue for the program.[12] Following the 2000 college baseball season, the school hired USC assistant John Savage as the program's new head coach.[13] The team began play in 2002. Its first game, also the opening of the newly built Anteater Ballpark, was an 8-5 loss to San Diego on January 25, 2002.[3]

In 2004, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament, its first in Division I. In the South Bend Regional, the team lost consecutive games to Arizona and Notre Dame and was eliminated.[3][14]

Following the 2004 season, John Savage left the program to become the head coach at UCLA.[15] UC Irvine hired Cal State Fullerton assistant coach Dave Serrano to replace him.[16] In 2006, Serrano's second season, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament. In 2007, the team again qualified for the tournament. After defeating Texas in the Round Rock Regional finals, the Anteaters defeated Wichita State in the Super Regionals to advance to the 2007 College World Series. At the World Series, the team went 2-2 and was eliminated by eventual national champion Oregon State.[3]

Following the 2007 season, Dave Serrano returned to Cal State Fullerton to become the team's head coach.[17] He was replaced by former USC head coach Mike Gillespie.[18] The team qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of Gillespie's first four seasons (2008-2011). In 2008, the team was eliminated by LSU in the Super Regional round.[3] In the team's 2009 season, the Anteaters won the Big West Championship with a 22-2 conference record and qualified for the NCAA tournament as the #6 National Seed. It hosted an NCAA Regional at Anteater Ballpark, but was eliminated in the Regional by Virginia.[19][20]

Following the 2009 season, Anteater Ballpark was renamed Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark for former UC Irvine chancellor Ralph J. Cicerone.[21]

An Anteaters coach conducts a mound visit during a 2010 game at George C. Page Stadium

In 2010, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament but was eliminated in the regional round.[22] In 2011, the team won the Los Angeles Regional to advance to its second super regional under Gillespie. In the super regional, the Anteaters lost to Virginia 2 games to 1.[23]

### Conference affiliations

[edit]

* Independent (College Division) (1970–1973)
* Independent (Division II) (1974–1977)
* Southern California Baseball Association (1978–1984)
* Big West Conference (1985–1992, 2002–present)
* Known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from 1985–1986

## UC Irvine in the NCAA Tournament

[edit]

Since joining Division I in 1978, the Anteaters have made 10 appearances in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament and qualified for the College World Series in 2007 and 2014.

Year  | Record  | Pct  | Notes

|
|
|

2004 | 0–2  | .000  | South Bend Regional
2006 | 0–2  | .000  | Malibu Regional
2007 | 7–2  | .778  | College World Series 3rd place, Wichita Super Regional Champs
2008 | 4–2  | .667  | Baton Rouge Super Regional, Lincoln Regional Champs
2009 | 2–2  | .500  | Hosted Irvine Regional
2010 | 2–2  | .500  | Los Angeles Regional
2011 | 4–2  | .667  | Charlottesville Super Regional, Los Angeles Regional Champs
2014 | 6–3  | .667  | College World Series 5th Place, Stillwater Super Regional Champions
2021 | 3–2  | .600  | Stanford Regional
2024 | 2–2  | .500  | Corvallis Regional

TOTALS

| 30–21 | .588 |

## Venues

[edit]

### Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark

[edit]

Main article: Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark

Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark has been the program's home venue since it opened in 2002, also the year in which UC Irvine sponsored varsity baseball for the first season since 1992. The venue was known as Anteater Ballpark from 2002-2009, before it was renamed for former university chancellor Ralph J. Cicerone.[24] It has a capacity of 2,900 spectators.[25]

## Head coaches

[edit]

Mike Gerakos, who coached for 12 seasons, is the program's longest tenured coach.[3]

Year(s)  | Coach  | Seasons  | W-L-T  | Pct

|
|
|
|

1970–1974  | Gary Adams | 5  | 185–68–5  | .731
1975–1976  | Tom Spence  | 2  | 39–47–1  | .453
1977–1978  | Eddie Allen  | 2  | 47–51–1  | .480
1979–1980  | Steve Hertz | 2  | 60–51–2  | .541
1981–1992  | Mike Gerakos  | 12  | 312–338–8  | .480
2002–2004  | John Savage | 3  | 88–84–1  | .512
2005–2007  | Dave Serrano | 3  | 114–66–1  | .633
2008–2018  | Mike Gillespie | 11  | 393–249  | .612
2019–present  | Ben Orloff | 6  | 203-97  | .677
Totals | 9  | 46  | 1441–1051–19  | .578

## Yearly records

[edit]

Below is a table of the program's yearly records.[3][7][8][20][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

Statistics overview  Season  | Coach  | Overall  | Conference  | Standing  | Postseason

|
|
|
|
|

Independent (College Division)  (1970–1973)
1970  | Gary Adams | 33-12-3 |  |  | NCAA Regional
1971  | Gary Adams  | 27-17-1 |  |  | NCAA Regional
1972  | Gary Adams  | 33-19-1 |  |  | NCAA Regional
1973  | Gary Adams  | 44-12 |  |  | College World Series
College Division Ind.: | 137-60-5 |  |
Independent (Division II) (1974–1977)
1974  | Gary Adams | 48-8 |  |  | College World Series
1975  | Tom Spence  | 15-27 |  |  |
1976  | Tom Spence  | 24-20-1 |  |  |
1977  | Eddie Allen  | 30-23 |  |  |
Division II Ind.: | 117-78-1 |  |
Southern California Baseball Association (Division I)  (1978–1984)
1978  | Eddie Allen  | 17-28-1 | 9-15-1 | 5th |
1979  | Steve Hertz | 23-26-1 | 8-18-1 | 7th |
1980  | Steve Hertz  | 37-25-1 | 18-9 | 2nd |
1981  | Mike Gerakos  | 31-23 | 13-15 | 6th |
1982  | Mike Gerakos  | 28-29-1 | 11-17 | 6th |
1983  | Mike Gerakos  | 25-25 | 16-12 | 3rd |
1984  | Mike Gerakos  | 23-34-1 | 11-16 | 6th |
SCBA: | 184-190-5 | 86-102 |
Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference (1985–1992)
1985  | Mike Gerakos  | 27-28-1 | 14-13 | 3rd (South) |
1986  | Mike Gerakos  | 20-26-2 | 9-12 | 5th |
1987  | Mike Gerakos  | 27-26-1 | 13-8 | 2nd |
1988  | Mike Gerakos  | 30-28-1 | 9-12 | t-5th |
1989  | Mike Gerakos  | 20-35-1 | 6-15 | 7th |
1990  | Mike Gerakos  | 34-25 | 10-11 | t-5th |
1991  | Mike Gerakos  | 24-32 | 6-15 | 8th |
1992  | Mike Gerakos  | 23-27 | 10-14 | 6th |
No program  (1993–2001)
Big West Conference (2002–present)
2002  | John Savage | 33-26 | 14-10 | t-4th |
2003  | John Savage  | 21-35 | 8-14 | t-5th |
2004 | John Savage  | 34-23-1 | 10-11 | 6th | NCAA Regional
2005 | Dave Serrano | 31-25 | 10-11 | 5th |
2006 | Dave Serrano  | 36-24 | 11-10 | 3rd | NCAA Regional
2007 | Dave Serrano  | 47-17-1 | 15-6 | t-2nd | College World Series
2008 | Mike Gillespie | 42-18 | 14-10 | t-3rd | NCAA Super Regional
2009 | Mike Gillespie  | 45-15 | 22-2 | 1st | NCAA Regional (#6 National Seed)
2010 | Mike Gillespie  | 39-21 | 17-7 | 2nd | NCAA Regional
2011 | Mike Gillespie  | 43-18 | 16-8 | 2nd | NCAA Super Regional
2012 | Mike Gillespie  | 31-25 | 13-11 | 4th |
2013 | Mike Gillespie  | 33-22 | 15-12 | t-4th |
2014 | Mike Gillespie  | 41-25 | 15-9 | 3rd | College World Series
2015 | Mike Gillespie  | 33-23 | 15-9 | 3rd |
2016 | Mike Gillespie  | 31-25 | 11-13 | 8th |
2017 | Mike Gillespie  | 23-33 | 9-15 | 7th |
2018 | Mike Gillespie  | 32-24 | 13-11 | 3rd |
2019 | Ben Orloff | 37-17 | 17-7 | 2nd |
2020 | Ben Orloff  | 8-7 | 8-7 | 7th |
2021 | Ben Orloff  | 43-18 | 32-8 | 1st | NCAA Regional
2022 | Ben Orloff  | 32-24 | 16-14 | 6th |
2023 | Ben Orloff  | 38-17 | 19-11 | 4th |
2024 | Ben Orloff  | 45-14 | 22-8 | 2nd | NCAA Regional
PCAA/Big West: | 920-692-8 | 378-305 |
Total: | 1358-1020-19 |

National champion Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion

## Notable former players

[edit]

David Huff, shown while pitching for the MLB's Cleveland Indians.

Below is a list of notable former Anteaters and the seasons in which they played for the program.[33][34][35][36]

* Brady Anderson (1983-1985)
* Garrett Atkins
* Dylan Axelrod (2006-2007)
* Justin Cassel (2004-2006)
* Keston Hiura (2015-2017)
* David Huff (2004)
* Doug Linton (1984-1986)
* Ben Orloff (2006-2009)
* Andre Pallante
* Bryan Petersen (2005-2007)
* Sean Tracey (2002)
* Gary Wheelock (1972-1974)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ UCI Art Sheet (PDF). May 1, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
2. ^ a b Liska, Jerry (August 7, 1973). "NCAA Splits Into Three Divisions". The Portsmouth Times. Portsmouth, Ohio, USA. The Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Anteater in the Draft/Year-by-Year Results" (PDF). 2010 UC Irvine Baseball Media Guide. UC Irvine Sports Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
4. ^ "#13 Gary Adams". UCLABruins.com. UCLA Sports Information. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
5. ^ Telander, Rick (May 23, 1977). "School of Soft Knocks". SI.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
6. ^ "2012 Baseball Record Book" (PDF). GoZags.com. Gonzaga Sports Information. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
7. ^ a b "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1979". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
8. ^ a b "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1980". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
9. ^ "Steve Hertz Back as Gonzaga Coach". The Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 9, 1980. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
10. ^ "Budget's Hit List Readied". The Press-Courier. The Associated Press. June 10, 1992. p. 3\. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
11. ^ "Local Notes: Brea-Olinda Standout Priess Signs to Play Baseball at San Luis Obispo". Los Angeles Times. August 4, 1992. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2012. "Priess had planned to attend UC Irvine until the Anteaters dropped their program last spring."
12. ^ a b McLeod, Paul (June 20, 2000). "UC Irvine Baseball Could Be Diamond in the Rough". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
13. ^ McLeod, Paul (July 5, 2000). "UCI Hires USC Assistant to Bring Back Baseball". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
14. ^ "2004 NCAA Postseason Tournament Results". D1Baseball.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
15. ^ Stephens, Eric (July 2, 2004). "Bruins Hire Irvine Coach". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
16. ^ Stephens, Eric (July 12, 2004). "Irvine Hires Titan Aide". The Los Angeles Times. p. D13. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
17. ^ Faulkner, Barry (September 8, 2007). "Serrano Leaves UCI for Fullerton". Articles.DailyPilot.com. The Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on October 17, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
18. ^ Yoon, Peter (September 25, 2007). "Gillespie to Coach Baseball at UC Irvine". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
19. ^ "2009 NCAA Regional Results". D1Baseball.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
20. ^ a b "2012 Big West Baseball Record Book" (PDF). BigWest.org. The Big West Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
21. ^ Vasich, Tom. "Cicerone's Field of Dreams". UCI.edu. UC Irvine Office of Communications. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
22. ^ "2010 NCAA Regional Results". D1Baseball.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
23. ^ "No. 10 UC Irvine Ends Season with Fourth 40-Win Season". UCIrvineSports.com. UC Irvine Sports Information. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
24. ^ "Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark". UCIrvine.PrestoSports.com. UC Irvine Sports Information. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
25. ^ "UCSB Heads to Irvine; Will Be Featured on ESPN". UCSBGauchos.com. UC Santa Barbara Sports Information. May 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
26. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1977". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
27. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1978". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
28. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1981". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
29. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1982". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
30. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1983". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
31. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings -- 1984". BoydsWorld.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
32. ^ "2013 Big West Conference Baseball Standings". D1Baseball.com. Jeremy Mills. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
33. ^ "University of California, Irvine Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
34. ^ "#11 Dave Huff". UCLABruins.com. UCLA Sports Information. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
35. ^ "#6 Ben Orloff". UCIrvineSports.com. UC Irvine Sports Information. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
36. ^ "#2 Bryan Petersen". UCIrvineSports.com. UC Irvine Sports Information. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

UC Irvine Anteaters baseball

Venues|

* Anteater Ballpark (2002–present)

People|

* Head coaches

Seasons|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993–2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

College World Series appearances in italics

* v
* t
* e

University of California, Irvine

Overview|

* Academics
* Athletics
* Campus
* People

Schools|

* Arts
* Biological Sciences
* Business
* Education
* Engineering
* Humanities
* Information and Computer Sciences
* Law
* Medicine
* Physical Sciences
* Social Ecology
* Social Sciences

Research|

* Beckman Laser Institute
* Burns Piñon Ridge Reserve
* Calit2
* Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
* Institute of Transportation Studies
* Thesaurus Linguae Graecae
* UC Center for Hydrologic Modeling
* UC Humanities Research Institute

Student life|

* Activities and traditions
* KUCI
* Muslim Student Union

History|

* Timeline
* Irvine 11 controversy
* pro-Palestinian campus occupation

Athletics|

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Men's soccer
* Men's volleyball

Campus|

* Anteater Ballpark
* Anteater Recreation Center
* Anteater Stadium
* Arboretum
* Barclay Theatre
* Bren Events Center
* Crawford Hall
* UCI Medical Center Irvine–Newport
* under construction
* UCI Medical Center
* off campus
* New Swan Theater
* seasonal
* Student housing
* Middle Earth
* University Hills

* v
* t
* e

Big West Conference baseball

Teams|

* Cal Poly Mustangs
* Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
* Cal State Fullerton Titans
* Cal State Northridge Matadors
* Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
* Long Beach State Dirtbags
* UC Davis Aggies
* UC Irvine Anteaters
* UC Riverside Highlanders
* UC San Diego Tritons
* UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Champions|

* List of Big West Conference baseball champions

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