Jason Cooper and Ryan Garko each had four hits and Brian Hall drove in
six runs while No. 1 Stanford handed 15th-ranked Cal State Fullerton its
worst loss ever – a 17-1 setback at Sunken Diamond Saturday afternoon.
The Titans, who fell to 0-2, had previously been beaten by as many as
14 runs twice in their 27-year Division I history, the most recent occurrence
coming last year in a 15-1 loss at Cal State Northridge. The Titans also
dropped their sixth consecutive decision to Stanford (2-0).
Titan newcomer Jeff Housman, who allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight
hits in 3.1 innings was tagged with the loss, though the other Titans
to take the hill didn't fare much better. Sean Martin allowed four earned
runs without retiring a batter and Charlie Zahari was touched up for five
runs in 2.2 innings. Travis Ingle and Mike Martinez– who was recruited
as a pitcher, but hadn't pitched in two seasons as a Titan – each
threw an inning.
Stanford preseason All-American Tim Cunningam (1-0) got past a shaky first
inning to pick up the win. He allowed one run on five hits in six innings,
while Drew Ehrlich was credited with a save for pitching three effective
innings.
Fullerton looked to have Cunningham on the ropes in the first. David Munoz
singled to center field to lead off and moved to second when Chris Stringfellow
singled through the left side. After Shane Costa was hit by a pitch to
load the bases, Kyle Boyer lifted a sacrifice fly to center to put the
Titans up, 1-0. A walk to Jason Corapci again loaded the bases, but Cunningham
got Geoff Comfort to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The Titans, who allowed three unearned runs in Friday's opener, had some
more defensive troubles Saturday. A pair of errors in the third opened
the door for three Cardinal runs (two unearned). Jason Cooper, who had
four hits on the day, keyed the rally with a two-run single up the middle.
The floodgates opened in the fourth. Stanford sent 14 batters to the plate,
scoring nine runs on nine hits. Scott Dragicevich and Arik VanZandt each
had a pair of hits in the frame. Chris O'Riordan and Cooper each had two-run
singles and Brian Hall sliced a three-run double down the left field line.
Hall added his second biggest hit in as many innings in the fourth, blasting
a three-run homer off Zahari for a 15-1 Cardinal lead. Ryan Garko, who
homered in each of Stanford's College World Series games against the Titans
last season, added a solo homer in the sixth for a 16-1 lead.
The Titans will send All-American Darric Merrell to the mound on Sunday
at 1 p.m. to face Stanford freshman Mark Jecmen.
NOTES: The Titans lost just their seventh road series in 35 tries
under Coach Horton...They have been swept only once since 1997 (at Stanford
to open the 2000 season)...Trevor Mortensen and Joe Turgeon each collected
their first career hits in pinch-hit appearances in the ninth...Comfort
grounded into double plays in each of his first two at bats and the Cardinal
turned double plays in the first, fourth and fifth...The 17 runs by Stanford
tied the most allowed by a Titan team under Horton
