March 8, 2006
FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton scored seven times in the second inning and went on to defeat San Diego State, 10-5, Tuesday night at Goodwin Field in Fullerton. With the win, the Titans, ranked seventh in the nation this week by Baseball America, improved to 11-6 while the Aztecs dropped to 6-12.
SDSU actually took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Jordan Swaydan singled, advanced to second when Joey Huskins was hit by pitch, and scored on Sam Pepper's double on a bouncer that went over Titan third baseman Bryan Harris' out-stretched glove.
Aztec starting pitcher Ronnie Lindsey (0-1), who had retired the side in order in the first, ran into trouble in the second as he surrendered six runs on five hits and a pair of walks. The big blow in the inning was a bases-loaded double down the left field line by catcher Cory Vanderhook that brought home three Titan runs.
Mark Triolo came on in relief of Lindsey after Fullerton had sent eight batters to the plate in the inning, but the freshman from Patrick Henry High was touched up for a run on two hits as the home side took a 7-1 lead.
SDSU got a run back in the third as Brock Ungricht and Paul Smyth hit back-to-back singles with Ungricht scoring on a ground out by Swaydan.
After Fullerton scored to make it an 8-1 contest, the Aztecs closed the gap with three runs in the top of the seventh. Brent Spirnak's leadoff single was followed by a double to left by pinch hitter Curt Mendoza. After Spirnak came home on a ground out by Pepper, Quintin Berry lofted a pitch over the right center field fence for his first home run of the season,
Berry's blast made the score 8-5, but SDSU was unable to get any closer as the Titans added single runs in their half of the seventh and eighth to provide the final margin.
Fullerton used a total of seven pitchers during the game with starter Justin Klipp being credited with the win to improve to 2-0. Closer Vinnie Pestano tossed the final 1.1 innings to record his fifth save of the season.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game series with cross-town rival University of San Diego beginning Friday, March 10, at 2:00 p.m. at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
Cal State Fullerton 10, San Diego State 5SDS 011 000 300 - 5 9 2CSF 070 001 11x -10 14 1Lindsey, Triolo (2), Sewell (6), Lynch (7) and Swaydan, Anderson (7)Klipp, Arbiso (3), Paul (4), Jorgenson (5), Estes (7), Soulages (8), Pestano (8) and Vanderhook, Curtis (8)W - Klipp (2-0)L - Lindsey (0-1)Sv - Pestano (5)HR - SDS: Berry (1) (7th-one on)Att. - 1,097Time - 3:09