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Overview — A proven hitter who could see time in the outfield or the infield … “We're going to find a place to play Matt Pearl. He's proved that he can hit in this level of competition. He's a solid, knowledgable player,” said Head Coach Gary Adams.
2000 (Summer) — Played second base and outfield for the San Francisco Seals of the California Coastal Collegiate League … Finished among the league leaders in batting average and led team to a third place finish at the NBC World Series in Wichita, KS … Earned All-League honors.
2000 (As A Junior) — After starting just seven of the first 34 games of the season, started 29 of the last 31 contests, including the last 16 Pac-10 games … Started the last 25 games in right field in place of an injured Nick Lyon … Also made four starts at DH and two in left field … Solidified himself in the leadoff spot, starting the last 26 games in that position … One of the most improved Bruins as far as batting average, raising his average by 112 points in 2000 from his 1999 clip of .235.
Notes: Led the team with a .404 batting average on the road … After hitting a team-high .450 (9-20) off the bench with a .522 on-base percentage, cracked the starting rotation with a career-high day against arch-rival USC on April 9 … Was 2-4 with a career-high two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in the series-clinching 8-5 win … Hit .333 (19-57) with runners in scoring position … Second on the team with a .417 (35-84) batting average in Pac-10 games (min. 20 AB).
Inside the Numbers: Impressed the coaching staff with a 6-7 performance in two games (one start) at Oregon State on March 31-April 1… Went 3-4 with a double and three RBI at UC Santa Barbara on April 11 … Was 2-5 with a home run and three RBI vs. Cal State Northridge on April 16, kicking off a career-high 13 game hitting streak (26-57 (.456) with 17 runs, two home runs and 14 RBI), April 16-May 6 … Last six games of hitting streak were all multi-hit games, going 15-27 (.556) with 11 runs and seven RBI, April 28-May 6 …Went 3-6 with a double and two RBI at #4 Arizona State on April 20 … Was a strong Pac-10 Player of the Week candidate with a 9-13, seven run, five RBI weekend at Washington State, April 28-30, that also included a double, his first career triple and a home run … Set career-highs in hits and runs scored with a 4-5, four-run outing in the series finale on April 30 … Was 3-5 with three runs and a career-high two doubles in series finale vs. Arizona on May 15 … Was fifth on the team in multi-hit games (18), multi-RBI games (10) and longest hitting streak (13).
1999 (Summer) -- Played every infield position except first base and all outfield positions for the San Francisco Seals of the California Coastal Collegiate Baseball League ... Was among the league leaders in batting average at .340 for the season ... Team finished second in league and fourth at the NBC World Series.
1999 (As A Sophomore) -- Started 21 games, including 12 in center before going down with an ankle injury suffered at UCSB, 2/16 ... Also platooned with Brian Baron in right towards the end of the season, starting six games at that spot ... Started three games at DH ... Hit leadoff twice, seventh three times, eighth 15 times, and ninth once ... Came off the bench 19 times as a pinch-hitter and/or defensive replacement
Notes: Was perfect in 43 chances in the outfield ... Hit first collegiate home run vs. McNeese State, 2/12 ... Had first collegiate game-winning hit at USC, 5/2 ... Legged out an infield single that allowed Garrett Atkins to score from second, giving the Bruins a 3-2 edge over the Trojans heading into the bottom half of the ninth in that crucial conference game ... Had three multi-hit and multi-RBI games.
1998 (Summer) - Played first base, second base, and in the outfield for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League under coach Don Norris.
1998 (As A Freshman) - Earned the opening day start in left field after impressive play in intrasquad games ... Started the first four games of the season but due to tremendous depth, this future star played sparingly the rest of the season ... Appeared in 12 games, making four starts in left field ... Started in the second spot once, in the seventh spot once and in the eighth spot of the lineup twice.
Notes: Collected his first collegiate hit (a double) on 1/30 at Hawaii ... Recorded his first two-hit game on 4/13 against Hawaii-Hilo.
Garces Memorial HS (Bakersfield, CA) - Lettered in baseball for four years as a shortstop and third baseman under coaches Jeff Glosser and Phil White, in football for three years as a running back, wide receiver, defensive back, place kicker and punter under coach John Fanucchi and in basketball for one year as a guard and forward under coach Gino Lacava ... Baseball: Named the Small Schools Baseball Player of the Year in 1997 by Cal-Hi Sports when he batted .619 with nine home runs, 12 doubles, seven triples, 25 stolen bases, 43 RBI and 55 runs scored ... His 60 hits broke a Central Section record ... Led his area in runs scored, runs batted in, triples, hits, and batting average ... Set almost every school record ... Batted .513 with 10 home runs his junior season ... His 155 career hits broke a Central Section record ... Reached base safely in every game his junior and senior seasons ... Earned All-League honors three times ... Earned All-Area first-team honors twice and was selected as the All-Area MVP in 1997 by the Bakersfield Californian ... Selected as his team's MVP and served as team captain his junior and senior seasons ... Helped lead his team to the league championship his sophomore and senior seasons ... Football: Earned first-team All-League honors as a wide receiver and second-team All-Area honors as a kicker his senior season ... Holds seven school records for receiving and kicking ... Named to his school's All-Time Team ...Helped lead his team to three consecutive league championships and the CIF Valley Championship (Division Four) in 1997 ... Basketball: Helped lead his team to the CIF Valley Championship as a sophomore.
Personal - Also recruited by Michigan, Clemson, Hawaii, San Francisco and Fresno State ... Favorite MLB player is Shawn Green ... Majoring in Business Economics ... His parents are Arthur Pearl (deceased) and Michelle Pearl ... Has an older brother, Joseph, who plays golf at UC Santa Barbara ... Full name is Matthew Arthur Pearl ... Born on Sept. 8, 1978, in Bakersfield, Calif.
CAREER STATISTICS
| YR | AVG | G-GS | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | SLG% | HBP | BB | SO | GDP | OB% | SH | SF | SB-SBA | PO | A | E | FLD% |
| 1998 | .227 | 12-4 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .318 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .217 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 9 | 3 | 2 | .857 |
| 1999 | .235 | 40-21 | 81 | 14 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 25 | .309 | 3 | 23 | 19 | 3 | .421 | 1 | 0 | 3-3 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2000 | .347 | 52-36 | 173 | 48 | 60 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 34 | 84 | .486 | 3 | 28 | 31 | 5 | .446 | 0 | 0 | 2-4 | 59 | 3 | 2 | .969 |
| Totals | .304 | 104-61 | 276 | 63 | 84 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 47 | 116 | .420 | 6 | 51 | 53 | 8 | .422 | 1 | 1 | 5-7 | 110 | 7 | 4 | .967 |
