May 16, 2008
FULLERTON, Calif. - Unable to find any offensive punch until down by six runs, San Diego State found itself on the losing end of a 10-3 score line at the hands of eighth-ranked Cal State Fullerton Friday evening at the Goodwin Field in Fullerton. The loss was the third straight for the Aztecs, who fell to 30-25 while the Titans won for the fifth time in its last six outings to improve to 34-17 on the year.
SDSU starting pitcher Nate Solow received little in the way of hospitality from the hosts, as they jumped on him early with a run in the first and added three more in the third to take a 4-0 lead. The sophomore lefty was forced from the game at the end of four innings having allowed the four runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out a pair. He would eventually be charged with the loss and see his record drop to 5-7.
Aztec reliever J.R. Murphy fared little better, giving up a pair of runs on three hits in the fifth as Fullerton upped its lead to 6-0.
On the other side, Titan starter Daniel Renken was solid over the first five innings. After allowing a game-opening single to Pat Colwell, he retired 10 in a row before Troy Hanzawa ended that streak with a single in the fourth. Those were SDSU's only two base runners through the first five frames as Renken struck out eight during that period.
Despite its offensive struggles over the first half of the contest, San Diego State got back into the contest with three runs in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back doubles by Brandon Glover and Colwell to start the inning got the visitors on the board. A single by Brandon Decker put runners on first and third before Hanzawa drove in SDSU's second run with a single to left center. After a fielder's choice, Garett Green's base hit up the middle brought home Decker with the third run of the inning to make it a 6-3 contest.
However, any hopes of a complete comeback were quickly dashed as Cal State Fullerton scored two runs in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh frames off Aztec reliever Shane Kaufman to put the game away. Center fielder Josh Fellhauer gave the Aztecs trouble all night, recording four hits including a double and home run while right fielder Erik Komatsu had three RBI.
Renken, who departed in the sixth after giving up the three runs, was credited with the win to improve to 5-5. Relievers Travis Kelly and Ryan Ackland finished out the final 3.2 innings to preserve the victory. SDSU's only late threat came in the eighth when it opened the inning with consecutive singles, but Kelly retired the next three batters to snuff out the rally.
Troy Hanzawa (three single) and Pat Colwell (single, double) accounted for half of the Aztecs hit on the night. Freshman Addison Reed was the team's most effective pitcher as he went the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit while striking out three.
San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton will conclude their three-game series Saturday evening, May 17, at 6L00 p.m. (PDT).