Jason Donald hit a tie-breaking three-run homer off Mike Martinez in the
eighth inning as No. 15 Arizona overcame a 7-0 deficit to surprise eighth-ranked
Cal State Fullerton, 11-8, at Kindall Field Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats, who swept UC Riverside last weekend, improved to 4-0. Fullerton,
which lost its fourth consecutive road game, slipped to 3-4 overall. The
Titans and Wildcats had not met since 1997, when Fullerton swept a three-game
set in Tucson.
Mark Melancon (2-0) held the Titans scoreless on two hits in three innings
to earn his second win. Titan freshman Vinnie Pestano took his first loss
for the Titans.
Arizona trailed, 8-5, before scoring three runs in the seventh inning.
Derek Decater lined a two-run single to right field and Jeff Van Houten,
who had moved to third when Titan right fielder Sergio Pedroza misplayed
Decater's single, scored on a wild pitch by Vinnie Pestano.
Then, with a pair aboard and just one out in the eighth, Donald belted
an offering from Martinez over the fence in left-center field to bring
the Wildcat fans to their feet.
Fullerton led, 7-0, after just an inning and a half. Danny Dorn had a
two-run double to left-center field in the first to make it 3-0 and the
Titans added four more runs in the second.
But Ryan Schreppel was again shaky for the Titans, allowing five runs
(but just one earned) in the second inning. First-team preseason All-American
Jason Windsor was dominant in relief (one hit in 4.0 innings), but was
limited to four innings as he continues his comeback from shoulder stiffness
The Titans will send Ricky Romero to the mound Saturday to try to even
up the series. First pitch is at 4 p.m. MST.
