Justin Turner doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth and Ricky Romero
picked up his 11th victory with eight strong innings as No. 22 Cal State
Fullerton clinched a series win over No. 8 Long Beach State with a 2-1
win over the 49ers at Blair Field Saturday night.
The Titans, who have won five consecutive games -- all against ranked
teama -- improved to 35-20 overall and 18-2 in Big West Conference play.
They can become the first Titan team ever to finish with just two conference
losses if they win the regular season finale on Sunday. Long Beach is
36-15 and 14-6.
Romero allowed just a run on six hits in eight innings to improve to 11-4.
Ryan Schreppel picked up his second save, allowing just one base runner
(on an error) in the ninth. Cesar Ramos, who had a no-hitter through six
innings, was the tough-luck loser and fell to 10-4.
Fullerton was held to two hits overall, though the second hit was the
backbreaker for Long Beach. After pinch-hitter Bobby Andrews drew a leadoff
walk in the eighth and moved to second on a sac bunt by Ronnie Prettyman,
Turner laced a double down the right field line to give the Titans a 2-1
lead.
The Titans scored an unearned run in the first after Justin Turner reached
second on a throwing error by third baseman Danny Mocny and later scored
on a sac fly by Danny Dorn. Long Beach, which left the bases loaded in
the second, scored its lone run on a sac fly by Steve Velazco in the fifth.
The Titans will try for their second straight sweep of a ranked team on
the road when the series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.
