Titans Topple Trojans at Edison Field May 5, 2003 – Anaheim, Calif.
Box Score
Darric Merrell allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings of relief
and Kyle Boyer drove in three runs as fourth-ranked Cal State Fullerton
defeated USC, 8-2, in a nonconference game at Edison International Field
in Anaheim Monday night.
The Titans snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 39-11 overall.
USC dropped its fourth straight and fell to 25-23. Fullerton won the season
series with the Trojans, two games to one, for the second consecutive
year. The teams used wood bats in Monday's game, believed to be the first
college baseball game ever played at Edison Field, home of the Anaheim
Angels.
Merrell (4-0) allowed a leadoff single in the fourth – his first
inning of work – but retired the next 12 batters he faced and mixed
in five strikeouts. Freshman sensation Ryan Schreppel made his first appearance
on the mound since undergoing knee surgery on March 14 and allowed just
one hit in two innings of work. Chad Cordero extended his consecutive
scoreless innings streak to 20.2 with a perfect ninth.
USC got on the board in the top of the first when Anthony Lunetta reached
second on Ronnie Prettyman's two-base throwing error and scored on Jeff
Clement's double off the right field wall. But Boyer knotted things up
in the bottom of the frame when he singled in Justin Smyres, who had one
of his three hits to open the inning.
Things unraveled for Trojan starting pitcher Jordan Olson (3-1) in the
fifth. Fullerton scored five runs in the inning, but had just one hit
– an infield single that just eluded first baseman Joey Metropoulos.
Of the first six batters in the inning, Olson walked one and hit three,
including Richie Burgos with the bases loaded to give the Titans a 3-1
lead. USC summoned Josh Rummonds, but he allowed all three runners to
score, including a pair on a wild pitch sequence.
Shane Costa was hit by a pitch to drive his career HBP total to 53, but
he officially went 0-for-2 to snap a 12-game hitting streak. Prettyman
did not have an official at bat (he had a sacrifice and two walks) to
keep his hitting streak intact at 11 games.
The Titans will return to Big West play this weekend, when they host UC
Irvine in a three-game series at Goodwin Field.
