AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

First baseman Tim Arroyo of Cal State Northridge was selected Big West Conference player of the week after leading the Matadors to a three-game sweep at Pacific.

Arroyo, a senior from Kennedy High, had two home runs and drove in three runs in an 11-4 victory Friday. He had four runs batted in and hit his third home run of the series in an 8-1 victory Sunday.

Arroyo leads Northridge with 10 doubles, 33 RBIs and is tied for second in home runs with seven. He is batting. .412 while starting all 28 games.

Arroyo had a two-run double Monday in a 5-4 loss to UCLA.

“I’m just seeing the ball real well and trying to be patient,” Arroyo said.

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Mike Frick , a senior right-hander from Buena High, has adapted to his role of closer for the Matadors. He leads the staff with 19 appearances and has recorded all of Northridge’s four saves.

Frick failed to pick up a save and did not factor in the decision Monday against UCLA.

“I like it,” Frick said of being closer. “I like the intensity. I just wish I could slam the door on them a little bit easier.”

While much is often made of the Matador offense, Frick said the team’s pitching will surprise opponents in the Big West.

“This team has the big-time sticks to win the ball games,” Frick said. “But the pitching we have, we’ve gotten some great starts out of some guys.”