Ricky Romero pitched his second consecutive complete game, scattered just
four hits and struck out a season-high 12 as 13th-ranked Cal State Fullerton
beat No. 5 Georgia Tech, 7-1, in a Kia Baseball Bash game at Goodwin Field
Saturday night.
The Titans improved to 7-8 while the Yellow Jackets dropped their second
consecutive game to fall to 6-2.
Romero, who improved to 3-2, retired 18 of 19 batters over one stretch.
After allowing a leadoff double in the third, Romero did not allow a hit
until surrendering back-to-back singles to open the ninth. Over his last
two outings, Romero has allowed just one earned run, struck out 22 and
and walked two in 18.0 innings.
Georgia Tech scraped together its lone run in the second when Jeremy Slayden's
sac fly brought home Andy Hawranick. The Yellow Jackets had runners at
second and third with no outs in the second, but Romero retired the next
three batters without allowing a run.
Fullerton was held scoreless by Tech starter Brian Burks (1-1) through
the first five innings, but grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth when P.J.
Pilittere singled up the midle to drive home a pair.
The Titans took advantage of some erratic defense and pitching in the
seventh and eighth innings to put away the Yellow Jackets. Yellow Jacket
pitchers walked three consecutive batters in the seventh, including Sergio
Pedroza with the bases loaded. Burks' wild throw on a sac bunt by Mark
Carroll also led to an unearned run in the inning. Fullerton capped its
scoring in the eighth, thanks to three more walks and the third Georgia
Tech error of the game.
Clark Hardman and Blake Davis each had two hits for the Titans.
Fullerton will wrap up play in the Kia Bash on Sunday at 5 p.m. against
USC.
EARLIER...Oklahoma's Ole Sheldon was 3-for-5 with two
RBI and two runs to lead the Sooners to a 9-6 win over USC. Russell Raley
and Andrew McGuire each had a pair of hits for the Sooners and Casey Brown
allowed just two earned runs in 6.1 innings. Coupled with the Titans'
win Saturday night, Oklahoma clinched the tournament title...Box
Score
