Cal State Fullerton pitcher Ricky Romero allowed just a run on three hits
in 5.2 innings of work, but the sixth-ranked Titans fell to Loyola Marymount,
3-2, in a nonconference game at George Page Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
The Titans fell to 18-5 overall while LMU, which received votes in the
most recent Sports Weekly/ESPN coaches poll, improved to 15-7.
LMU's Stephen Kahn took the win to improve to 3-0 while Sean Martin (0-1)
suffered the loss despite not allowing a hit.
LMU's Jon Higashi chopped a ground ball to third baseman Ronnie Prettyman
with one out in the eighth to drive in Chris Pettit from third with the
go-ahead run. Kyle Huddy came on in the ninth for the Lions and retired
the Titans in order for his fourth save.
Romero allowed just one run – leadoff hitter Billy Lockin blooped
a single to right, stole second and third and scored on a grounder in
the first – but held the Lions scoreless on two hits over his final
4.2 innings. Twice, Romero retired seven consecutive batters. He got some
help in the fourth inning from center fielder Kyle Boyer, who gunned down
Higashi trying to score on a shallow fly out.
Fullerton, which stranded seven runners, trailed by a 1-0 deficit for
most of the game before Justin Smyres lined a triple down the right field
line with two outs in the seventh to score Kurt Suzuki and Prettyman for
a 2-1 lead.
But LMU's Jon Oller singled off Titan reliever John Tucker to open the
seventh and scored the tying run on Carl Stoeber's triple into the right
field corner.
Fullerton will host Cal State Northridge in a nonconference series this
weekend.
