Briefs: UCI baseball adds volunteer assistants

Former UC Irvine baseball players Bryce Stowell and Jon Herkins have joined the Anteaters’ baseball staff as undergraduate volunteer assistant coaches.

Stowell, 29, recently concluded a seven-year minor-league career in which he was 19-15 with 25 saves in 334 innings from single A to triple A. He struck out 432 and allowed just 263 hits in the minors.

Stowell pitched for the ‘Eaters in 2007-08. After utilizing a redshirt year, the right-hander went 8-3 in 2008 to help the team reach the NCAA Super Regionals. In his only season on the mound, he struck out 101 in 88 1/3 innings and pitched in three combined shutouts.

He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 22nd round in June, 2008.

Herkins was an outfielder with the Anteaters in 2013-14. He played in 34 games in two years with five hits, six runs and two runs batted in.

The addition of Herkins and Stowell brings the number of Anteaters on the coaching staff to six. Mike Gillespie (USC, Class of 1962) enters his ninth season at the helm of the UCI staff and is joined by assistant coaches and former UCI players Ben Orloff (‘09), Daniel Bibona (‘10) and Eric Deragisch (‘09) and Director of Operations Evan Brock (‘14). The six Anteaters have a combined 19 years of NCAA postseason experience stemming from their time as a UCI student-athlete.

— From staff reports

Vanguard’s Allen receives accolade

Vanguard University junior Danyelle Allen was named Golden State Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week in women’s soccer.

Allen has led the Lions to the No. 12 ranking in the NAIA and a 8-1 record, 2-0 in conference.

In a 2-1 conference-opening win Sept. 22 over then-No. 13 ranked The Master’s, Allen scored both goals with only two shots on goal. The game-winning goal was her fourth of the season, which ranks third in the NAIA.

In a 2-1 conference triumph at William Jessup on Saturday, Allen drew an important foul to create a penalty kick that allowed the Lions to tie the match.

She ranks fifth in the conference with six goals in eight games.

The Lions play host to Hope International in another GSAC game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

— From staff reports

Lions’ Gomez recognized

Vanguard University sophomore Brandon Gomez has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week in men’s soccer.

Gomez, a goalkeeper, recorded his fourth and fifth shutouts of the season in conference wins over The Master’s and William Jessup.

He made three saves in the 2-0 win over The Master’s on Sept. 23 and added two more in a 2-0 decision at William Jessup on Saturday to help the Lions (8-1, 2-0 in conference) jump from No. 8 to No. 3 in the NAIA poll announced Tuesday.

Gomez’s 0.56 goals-against average ranks seventh in the nation.

Vanguard plays host to Hope International on Saturday at 4 p.m.

— From staff reports

Vanguard twosome lauded

Vanguard University standouts Charlotte Heerlyn and Kelly Dalrymple have been named Golden State Athletic Conference Attacker of the Week and Setter of the Week, respectively.

Heerlyn, a senior outside hitter, combined for 33 kills on 75 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage in conference wins at The Master’s (Sept. 22) and No. 16-ranked Westmont (Saturday).

Heerlyn had three solo blocks and six block assists for the week to help the No. 10-ranked Lions improve to 11-4, 4-0 in conference action.

Dalrymple, a junior, had 55 combined assists in the five-game win at The Master’s and a four-game triumph at Westmont. Her 24 combined digs in the two matches ranked second on the team.

Vanguard swept past visiting Menlo College on Friday and meets conference visitor William Jessup on Saturday at 7 p.m.

— From staff reports