Eighth-Inning Rally Lifts Titans to Series Win Mar. 30, 2003 – Long Beach, Calif.
Box Score
Sergio Pedroza doubled in the tying runs and Justin Smyres singled in
the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth to key a five-run inning as
fourth-ranked Cal State Fullerton rallied against No. 5 Long Beach State's
top two relievers for a 7-5 nonconference win at Blair Field Sunday.
Fullerton, which improved to 7-1 against ranked teams this season, improved
to 24-6 overall. The 49ers, who lost just their second series of the season,
fell to 18-9.
Long Beach reliever Neil Jamison, who had allowed just two earned runs
in 20.0 innings coming in, faced four batters in the eighth without earning
an out. With the 49ers leading, 5-2, he hit Kyle Boyer with a pitch to
open the frame, gave up a single to Richie Burgos, walked P.J. Pilittere
and hit Danny Dorn to force in a run. The 49ers summoned closer Carlos
Muniz, who gave up the tying and go-ahead hits. Justin Turner added an
RBI-single later in the inning to give the Titans a two-run cushion.
Titan relief ace Chad Cordero did not allow a run in the final 2.1 innings
and left the bases loaded in the seventh after coming on with two outs.
He earned the win to improve to 2-1. Jamison fell to 4-1.
The Titans' rally came after Long Beach Starter Jered Weaver shut the
door on several Titan rallies through the first five innings, stranding
a runner in scoring position in each frame.
Just as the Titans built a 2-0 lead against All-American Abe Alvarez on
Friday, Fullerton scored the first two runs on Sunday against Weaver,
a preseason All-American. Dorn's triple to right-center field in the second
gave Fullerton a 1-0 lead and Dorn scored on a passed ball to give the
Titans a two-run cushion.
But the 49ers came right back with four runs in the bottom of the frame.
Romero hit the first batter he faced, gave up a single to Troy Tulowitzki
and gave up a game-tying two-run single to Todd Jennings. Travis Udvarhelyi
and Tim Hutting also had RBI-hits in the inning for Long Beach State,
which batted around.
Long Beach tacked another run on in the sixth, when Tulowitzki hit Romero's
first pitch of the inning over the center field wall for the first home
run of the series by either team.
Turner finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and Burgos and Pilittere each had
two hits. Tulowitzki was 4-for-5 to pace Long Beach.
Fullerton will travel to Pepperdine on Wednesday before hosting Pacific
next weekend to open Big West Conference play.
