Pinch-hitter Luke MacLean's two-run single in the top of the ninth capped
a four-run comeback and Minnesota catcher Jake Elder picked off pinch-runner
Joe Turgeon for the game's final out as the Golden Gophers rallied for
an 8-7 win over Cal State Fullerton at Goodwin Field Saturday night.
The Golden Gophers, who have won four out of five, improved to 5-5. Fullerton
dropped to 10-12. The Titans had not lost a game when they took a lead
into the ninth inning since Stanford came back for a 13-inning NCAA Regional
win at Palo Alto in 2002.
Fullerton took an 7-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth with Ricky Romero
taking the mound in a bid for his third complete game of the season. But
after walking the leadoff hitter and giving up a single, Romero gave way
to closer Mike Martinez (1-1).
Martinez retired the first batter he faced on a hard ground ball to first,
but then gave up a two-run single to pinch-hitter John Arlt, a double
to Sam Steidl and the go-ahead single to MacLean.
Justin Turner banged a one-out single through the left side in the bottom
of the ninth, but Sergio Pedroza struck out and Turgeon, who came in to
run for Turner, was picked off at first by Elder with Suzuki at the plate.
Romero, who faced just 15 batters (the minimum) in the fourth through
eighth innings, was in line for his fourth win before the blown save.
He fanned 10 -- his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season
-- and walked four.
The Titans trailed, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the second, but scored
the game's next six runs. Fullerton grabbed the lead in the fifth when
Pedroza doubled in Blake Davis and Suzuki drilled a two-run homer down
the left field line.
Craig Molldrem allowed just a run in 4.2 relief innings to pick up the
win and improve to 1-0.
Fullerton will try for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m.
