May 3, 2005
FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton, the nation's top-ranked baseball team, came from three runs down to defeat San Diego State, 4-3, in 11 innings at Goodwin Field in Fullerton Tuesday evening. It was the second extra-inning loss for SDSU in three days after falling to UNLV in 14 innings Sunday afternoon.
It was the eighth win in a row for the Titans, who improved to 34-12. The Aztecs saw their record fall to 18-28.
San Diego State jumped on Fullerton starter Jared Clark for three quick runs in the first inning, using a walk and three singles with RBIs from James Guerrero, Jake McLintock and Lance Zawadzki.
Aztec starting pitcher Ben Coon, meanwhile, kept the Fullerton bats silent as he gave up just one hit over the first four innings, retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced. However, the Aztec offense was unable to muster much after its first inning outburst as three Titan relievers held them to four hits over the final 10 frames.
The home side began its comeback in the fifth, scoring a run on a single by center fielder Danny Dorn, a sacrifice bunt, and an RBI base hit by third baseman Ronnie Prettyman. The Titans tied the game in the next inning as right fielder Sergio Pedroza hit a two-run homer to deep right field to knot the score at 3-3.
Both teams had chances to win it in extra frames. In the bottom of the 10th, Fullerton had men on first and second with one out when Pedroza's line shot just inside the first base line was speared by SDSU's Tim O'Brien, who completed the double play by stepping on first.
In the top of the 11th, McLintock led off for SDSU with a double to right, but was stranded at third base.
Cal State Fullerton's winning rally began with a leadoff single in the bottom of the 11th by first baseman Brett Pill. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and came home on Evan McArthrur's single to left.
Titan closer Vinnie Pestano tossed the final 3.1 innings, his longest outing of the year, to pick up the win and improve to 3-2.
Aztec junior lefty Dan Bruckart (0-2) had come on in relief of Coon in the seventh and pitched well over the final 4.1 innings. However he was the victim of SDSU's inability to generate any runs as he was tagged with the loss.
SDSU's Jake McLintock was the lone Aztec with more an extra-base hit with the double in the 11th. His RBI in the first inning left him one shy of the San Diego State career record of 168 held by Chris Gwynn (1983-85).
The Aztecs will now prepare for a return to Mountain West Conference play as they travel to Salt Lake City for a three-game series with Utah beginning Friday, May 6, at 6:00 p.m. (MDT) at Franklin Covey Field.
Cal State Fullerton 4, San Diego State 3 (11 inn.)SDSU 300 000 000 00 - 3 7 1CSUF 000 012 000 01 - 4 8 1Coon, Bruckart (7) and SwaydanClark, Jorgenson (3), Gagnier (7), Pestano (8) and Curtis, Wilhite (11)W - Pestano (3-2)L - Bruckart (0-2)Sv - NoneHR - CSUF: Pedroza (12)Time - 3:26Att. - 2,608