|
|
|
|
|
|
Merrell
Just Misses Shutout, but Beats Pacific, 3-1 Apr. 7, 2001 – Fullerton, Calif. Freshman pitcher Darric Merrell threw his first complete game and was just one out away from a shutout as the 18th-ranked Cal State Fullerton baseball team beat Pacific, 3-1, in a Big West Conference game at Goodwin Field Friday night. The Titans, who have won seven in a row and 13 of their last 15, improved to 21-10 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Pacific fell to 19-17 and 0-2. Merrell (3-2), a right-hander out of Temecula, scattered nine hits and walked two while striking out a career-high 11 and lowering his ERA to 1.84. His shutout bid was broken up with two outs in the ninth, when Pacific pinch-hitter Marcus Steele singled to left field to drive in Joel Summers. Following a wild pitch, the Tigers had the tying runs in scoring position, but Merrell struck out Michael Fitzgerald looking to end the game. The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after David Bacani drew a one-out walk, moved to third on a single by Robert Guzman and scored on one of Jason Corapci’s three singles. Fullerton scored twice in the eighth, when Pacific used four different pitchers. Geoff Comfort had a pinch-hit RBI single and Brett Kay also singled in a run. It was the first hit in seven weeks for Kay, who returned to the line-up Friday night after a broken thumb had sidelined him for 17 games. Pacific starter Jason Walker (5-4) allowed nine hits over 7.1 innings and left the game in the eighth, trailing by just a run. But the Tiger bullpen gave up two hits and a walk in just two-thirds of an inning. Fullerton will wrap up its three-game series with Pacific on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Goodwin Field. Box score
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
