The Official Athletics Site of the Fresno Pacific University Sunbirds

As a Sophomore (2011) - Started 45 games at the plate and appeared in 21 on the mound as the team's starting catcher/DH and the closer out of the bullpen....recorded 6 saves in 32 2/3 innings pitched, going 3-3 with a 3.58 ERA....he struck out 35 and walked just 10 while holding opponents to a .242 average....ended the regular season with a 1.91 ERA....at the plate, batted .240 in 154 at-bats with 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 27 RBI and 21 runs scored....hit two homers on the same day, going 4-for-5 in doubleheader at Point Loma Nazarene (3/26)...went 2-for-4 with a 1st-inning grand slam in win at Azusa Pacific (3/31)....went 2-for-3 with a homer in win vs. Menlo (3/8)....had 3 RBI and recorded a 4-out save in win over GSAC champ Cal Baptist (3/18)....recorded two saves on the same day (both more than an inning) in sweep of eventual national champion Concordia (3/1)....struck out 7 in 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit relief in win at Cal State Monterey Bay (2/12).

As a Freshman (2010)- Played both ways for the Sunbirds, starting 25 games at catcher/DH and making 13 appearances on the mound....as a hitter, batted .324 in 102 at-bats with five home runs and 31 RBI....on the mound went 5-1 with a 6.67 ERA in 28 1/3 innings pitched, striking out 31 and walking 14....made three starts on the mound late in the year, throwing six scoreless innings and striking out seven to earn a win over San Diego Christian (4/29)....then threw 7 1/3 with two earned runs and seven strikeouts in a GSAC tournament win over The Master's (5/12)....earned a save against Concordia, striking out the last two batters (3/5)....in his first ever start as a hitter, went 3-for-5 with six RBI and two homers in a win vs. Bethany (2/12)....played particularly well against The Master's, in addition to eliminating them from the playoffs on the mound, going 8-for-12 with seven RBI and two homers in three games against the Mustangs.

Prior to FPU - Played four years of varsity baseball at St. Mary's High School under coach Peter Pijl...named 1st Team All-League for three years...1st Team All-Area twice....team MVP his junior year....team captured runner-up section titles in his sophomore and senior years.

Personal - Born October 15, 1990 in Stockton.....parents are Salvador and Judie Rivera...has a younger sister, Cassie...biggest sports thrill in college was hitting two home runs in his first game....favorite foods are tacos and burritos....favorite sports team is the New York Yankees....favorite athlete is Albert Pujoils....hobbies includeplaying ping pong and video games with friends...Michael is a Kinesiology major with an emphasis in Exercise Science.