Hard times in NCAAs
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.
Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) senior pitcher, UC Irvine baseball: The former All-Area Player of the Year has a scoreless inning streak of to 24 1/3 innings going, as Bergman (8-3) has lowered his earned-run average to 3.82 and has 74 strikeouts on the year. But Bergman’s good fortune didn’t play a part in his team’s setback on Friday.
The Anteaters began play in the Los Angeles Regional on Friday afternoon at UCLA. Bergman, a right-hander, didn’t pitch in Irvine’s 11-10 loss to defending champion LSU in 11 innings.
The Anteaters, who finished second in the Big West Conference, failed to hold on to a pair of one-run leads in the ninth and 11 innings.
LSU (41-20) won the game on a two-run double by Trey Watkins off reliever Eric Pettis.
Irvine (37-20) will meet UCLA or Kent State in an elimination game at 2 p.m. today at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Westwood.
Bergman, a former All-Mission League first-team member, is slated to start today’s contest.
Baillie Kirker (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) freshman infielder, University of Arizona softball: Kirker, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, and the 10th-seeded Wildcats opened the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma City with a 9-0 loss to 15th-seeded Tennessee on Thursday. The game was called after five innings because of the mercy rule.
Kirker went hitless in two plate appearances, capped by fouling out to third in the fifth. The first baseman had one assists and four put outs.
The Wildcats (48-12) will face PAC-10 rival Washington in an elimination game at 11:30 a.m. PDT today.
Through Thursday, Kirker is batting .185 (25 for 135) with three doubles, seven home runs and 27 runs batted in.
In 54 games, Kirker has scored 23 runs and posted a .990 fielding percentage.
Kathryn Poet (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2007) junior outfielder, University of Missouri softball: Things didn’t start off well for Poet, a former All-Area member, and the Tigers. Missouri held a 2-1 lead entering the top of the seventh inning against Hawaii in an opening-round game of the College Softball World Series on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Hawaii, seeded 16th, scored two runs in the inning to post a 3-2 win and send ninth-seeded Missouri (51-12) into the loser’s bracket.
Missouri, making its third consecutive trip to the World Series, will face fourth-seeded Florida today at 9 a.m. PDT.
Poet served as Missouri’s designated player and went hitless in three at-bats.
Brett Kanda (Flintridge Prep, 2005) UNLV men’s golf: Kanda, a former All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year, concluded his collegiate career Thursday afternoon.
Competing in the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at the Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., Kanda finished tied for 103rd for the 12th-ranked Rebels, who finished tied for 21st place with Texas at 15-over 879 in the 54-hole stroke-play format.
Kanda opened the tournament Tuesday by shooting a four-over-par 76. The La Crescenta resident then carded a 75 before finishing with a 75 on the 7,395-yard course.
Oklahoma State finished stroke play in first place at 14-under 850, followed by Florida State at 10-under.
Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo (Crescenta Valley High, 2008) sophomore infielder/outfielder, Boise State University softball: The former All-Area Player of the Year finished her season batting .205 (eight for 39) with two home runs and eight runs batted in.
In 30 games with Boise State, Viers-Gordillo didn’t commit an error. She finished with 79 put outs for the Broncos, who finished 29-32 and 13-8 in the Western Athletic Conference.
