Briefs: UCI’s Moore in running

UC Irvine junior pitcher Sam Moore is among 36 semifinalists for Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year award.

Moore who entered Saturday’s NCAA Regional action leading the nation with 23 saves, was recently named second-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He finished the regular season with a 1.90 earned-run average and broke school and Big West Conference season records for saves.

Moore entered Saturday needing one save to match the NCAA single-season record.

Finalists will be named Friday and the winner will be named during the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

— From staff reports

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UCI’s Sparks lauded

UC Irvine junior third baseman Taylor Sparks was named third-team Academic All-American by Capital One.

Sparks, academic all-district earlier this month, was UCI’s 2014 Big West Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Sparks, majoring in sociology, is also a three-time Big West scholar-athlete. He has started 58 games for the Anteaters, who opened NCAA regional action on Friday with a 10-3 win over UNLV at Oregon State.

Sparks hit .290 with 63 hits and 33 runs batted in in the regular season, when his 14 doubles led the team. He ranked sixth in the country with seven regular-season triples and shared the team lead with four home runs.

— From staff reports