Cal State Fullerton senior Jordan DeJong threw a complete game six-hitter
as No. 11 Cal State Fullerton topped No. 17 USC, 8-1, in the Kia Baseball
Bash finale at Goodwin Field Sunday evening.
Fullerton, which was in danger of losing three consecutive weekend games
at Goodwin Field for the first time since 1993, improved to 10-6, while
USC fell to 6-7.
DeJong (4-0) threw his second career complete game (and first as a Titan),
striking out eight (one short of his career high) and walking just one
in the ninth inning. The complete game was the first by a Titan since
Kirk Saarloos pitched a no-hitter vs. Pacific on April 8 of last season.
USC's Frazer Dizard, coming off an injury, started and pitched just one
inning (coach's decision) before Brett Bannister (1-1) came on to pitch
the next 5.2 innings.
The Titans broke open a close game with a six-run seventh inning, though
all six runs were unearned, thanks to a two-out throwing error by shortstop
Michael Moon.
The Trojans got to DeJong for their only run in the fourth, when Bill
Peavey doubled to deep right-center and later scored on a sacrifice fly
by Travis McAndrews. The Titans tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of
the inning on Chris Stringfellow's first home run of the season.
Fullerton grabbed a 2-1 lead one inning later, when Kurt Suzuki beat out
a chopper to shortstop and moved station-to-station (second on a sac bunt
by David Munoz, third on a single by Justin Smyres and home on a single
by Jason Corapci).
Stringfellow, who also doubled in a run, was 2-for-3 with two RBI and
two runs. Smyres had three hits and Suzuki, who batted a team-high .571
on the weekend, was 2-for-4.
Fullerton will travel to Wichita State for a three-game series next weekend.
