Kyle Boyer reached based five times and had a key bases-loaded triple
as No. 5 Cal State Fullerton beat sixth-ranked Texas, 14-4, at the Kia
Bash Saturday night to spoil former Titan Coach Augie Garrido's homecoming
in front of a Goodwin Field record crowd of 3,501.
The Titans have won five consecutive games and are 13-1 for just the second
time in the program's 29-year Division I history and first time since
1996 (Garrido's last year at Fullerton). Texas has lost four of its last
five and is 12-5 overall. Fullerton has won 10 of the last 11 meetings
between the schools and evened its all-time record against the Longhorns
at 15-15.
Texas grabbed a 2-0 lead just two batters into the ballgame, when the
Longhorns' Omar Quintanilla drilled a Wes Littleton offering over the
right-center field wall. But Fullerton answered with seven runs in the
bottom of the frame and Littleton retired 13 consecutive batters after
the home run to put a Texas comeback out of mind.
The Titans got back-to-back bunt singles to open the bottom of the first
before Shane Costa's double to right field brought in the first run. After
David Fischer drove in the tying run with a ground ball to second base,
Costa provided perhaps the highlight of the night with a straight steal
of home. That seemed to shift the momentum even more in Fullerton's favor
as the Titans plated four more runs in the frame, the last three trotting
home on Boyer's triple into right-center field.
Boyer, who was hit by pitches in his next three appearances, also came
up with the defensive gem of the night, when he made a diving catch of
Joe Ferin's fly ball in center field to end the fifth.
Littleton (3-0) allowed four runs on seven hits in eight innings while
striking out seven and walking none. Sean Martin pitched a perfect ninth
and added a pair of strikeouts. Over their last five games, Titan pitchers
have combined to strike out 59 and walk just four (one intentionally).
Texas starting pitcher Eugene Espineli, who lasted just two-thirds of
an inning, took the loss to fall to 1-1.
Titan veteran Jason Corapci, making just his second start of the season
and first in the the field, went 4-for-5 to pace the Titans' season-high
tying 20-hit attack. Justin Turner, Shane Costa, Richie Burgos and Justin
Smyres each had three hits.
The Titans will battle UCLA for the Kia Bash title on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Texas and Tulane will meet in the matinee at noon.
