Wes Littleton threw a 75-pitch one-hitter and faced just 27 batters as
No. 13 Cal State Fullerton spoiled Fresno State's home opener, 12-0, at
Pete Beiden Field Friday night.
The Titans improved to 4-0 for the first time since their 1979 national
championship season, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-1.
Littleton (1-0) allowed just two baserunners. Chris Patrick reached on
a first-inning walk, but was thrown out trying to steal after Casey McGehee
struck out looking. Ryan Haag reached on a clean single to left field
to open the fourth, but was erased on a 6-4-3 double play off Patrick's
bat.
It marked the second career shutout for Littleton, a second-team preseason
All-American, and his first since a 6-0 win over Long Beach State on March
22, 2002.
The Titans' offense was paced by sophomore third baseman Ronnie Prettyman,
who went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three runs, and senior shortstop
Justin Smyres, who had three hits, including a leadoff homer.
The Titans jumped on emergency starter Bryan Wolfenbarger, who was summoned
after scheduled starter Brett Young was lifted just before the scheduled
first pitch with elbow tightness. The game was delayed for 19 minutes
while Wolfenbarger loosened up.
The Titans used three extra base hits -- Smyres' homer and doubles by
Prettyman and Richie Burgos - to plate a pair of first inning runs. They
changed gears in the second, using four consecutive singles, a hit batter
and a two-run single by Burgos to open a 6-0 lead.
Fullerton scored single runs in the fourth and fifth (on a P.J. Pilittere
homer) before scoring three in the sixth. Fresno State first-year Coach
Mike Batesole was ejected in the frame after Danny Dorn drew a bases-loaded
walk. The final run came in in the seventh, when Visalia native Shane
Costa's groundout drove in Joe Turgeon.
Burgos, Turner and Pilittere each had two hits as did Turgeon, who improved
to 6-for-6 on the season.
Fullerton and Fresno will meet in the second game of the series on Saturday
at 1:05 p.m.
