Fullerton preseason All-Americans Darric Merrell, Shane Costa and Chad
Cordero all played key roles as the 15th-ranked Titans salvaged a three-game
series and tagged No. 1 Stanford with a 6-3 loss at Sunken Diamond Sunday
afternoon.
Merrell pitched 5.1 solid innings to pick up his first win, Costa had
three hits – including two doubles – and a pair of RBI,
while Cordero struck out two in the ninth to earn his first save.
The Titans (1-2), whp snapped their six-game losing streak against Stanford
(2-1), received other key contributions from shortstop David Munoz, who
had four hits, and Jordan DeJong, who retired all seven batters he faced
after entering for Merrell in the sixth.
The Titans got to highly touted Stanford freshman right-hander Mark Jecmen
for four runs in the first two innings. Munoz, who singled in his first
three at bats, lined a hit to left field to lead off the game and scored
on an RBI-double to right-center field by Costa. The next batter, Kyle
Boyer, blooped a single down the right field line to plate Costa and put
the Titans up, 2-0.
The Titans' second-inning rally started with two outs. Fitzgerald singled
and moved to third on Munoz's hit to right field. A wild pitch scored
Fitzgerald to give Fullerton a 3-0 lead and Costa's second RBI-hit in
as many innings gave Fullerton its 4-0 cushion.
Merrell allowed four leadoff batters to reach in his five-plus innings
of work and two of them came back to haunt him. Arik VanZandt singled
through the left side to open the third and later scored on an RBI groundout
by Sam Fuld. The Cardinal closed the gap to 4-2 when Carlos Quentin hit
his second home run of the series, a solo shot to lead off the fourth.
Merrell was replaced by DeJong with runners on second and third and one
out in the sixth. VanZandt, the first batter to face DeJong, lifted a
sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game.
But the Titans added a pair of runs off a pair of Cardinal pitchers in
the top of the seventh. John Hudgins had allowed just two hits in 4.1
innings of work, but was lifted after walking Chris Stringfellow to lead
off the seventh. Dan Rich faced just three Titans, allowing a double to
Costa on his first pitch, a sacrifice fly to Boyer and an RBI-single through
a drawn-in infield by Richie Burgos.
Fullerton will open its home schedule against Fresno State on Friday at
7 p.m.
NOTES: The Cardinal stranded four runners on third base with Merrell
on the mound...Merrell improved to 6-0 on the road in his career...Fullerton
avoided the sweep (the Titans have been swept just once in Horton's six
seasons – at Stanford to open the 2000 season)...Freshman catcher
Kurt Suzuki made his first career start and picked up his first career
hit when he singled up the middle off J.D. Willcox in the eighth...Chris
Stringfellow had five plate appearances, but was officially just 0-for-1
(two walks, a HBP and a sacrifice bunt)...Jordan DeJong allowed no runs
on just one hit in six innings in the weekend series...The Titans are
43-0 when leading after seven innings, dating back to last season.
