Hillman, Hernandez recognized

UC Irvine seniors Drew Hillman and Brian Hernandez have been recognized this week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn., respectively.

Hillman was voted a West Regional Player of the Week after going 10 for 16 (.625) in four games last week. He drove in six runs, scored seven and stole three bases and his efforts included a six-for-six game Sunday at Pacific.

He hit a three-run home run Friday at Pacific and was laster named Big West Conference Player of the Week.

Including a walk-off, two-run home run in the 12th inning Tuesday at home against San Diego, Hillman was betting .349 with 45 hits and 30 RBIs through Wednesday.

Hernandez is one of 45 players to be named to the NCBWA midseason watch list for the 2011 Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.

Hernandez is currently third in the Big West in saves with seven. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.02 earned-run average through Wednesday. He had logged 17 2/3 innings in relief and struck out 14 while giving up two earned runs. As the team’s starting third baseman, Hernandez is also third on the team with a .338 average and is tied for first with 45 hits and tied for third with 22 RBIs.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalist and released June 1, prior to the start of NCAA regional tournament competition. The winner will be announced on opening day of the College World Series on June 18.

— From staff reports