Sam Fuld's two-run sixth-inning double off Cal State Fullerton reliever
John Tucker broke a 6-6 tie and proved the difference as No. 6 Stanford
beat fourth-ranked Cal State Fullerton, 8-7, at Sunken Diamond Saturday
afternoon.
The Cardinal (2-0) clinched the series win with the victory, their fourth
in a row over the Titans (0-2). Saturday's game featured five lead changes.
The Titans' late-inning rally hopes were snuffed out by Cardinal reliever
David O'Hagan, who earned the save by allowing just a run on three hits
over the last three innings. He allowed an RBI-single to Kurt Suzuki in
the ninth, but struck out Felipe Garcia and pinch-hitter Danny Dorn to
end the game.
Matt Leva (1-0) earned the win for Stanford, despite pitching just two-thirds
of an inning. Titan starter Ricky Romero, who allowed seven runs (six
earned) on six hits in 5.2 innings, took the loss to fall to 0-1.
Suzuki was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and tied a career-high with four
RBI. Justin Turner, Ronnie Prettyman and Garcia each had two hits for
Fullerton.
Fullerton struck first when Prettyman doubled into the left field corner
to open the game, moved up 90 feet on a sac bunt by P.J. Pilittere and
scored on Suzuki's infield single.
After Jonny Ash's two-run single in the second gave Stanford a 2-1 lead,
Fullerton bounced back with a pair of runs in the third when Suzuki blasted
a Matt Manship offering off the scoreboard in left-center field for a
two-run homer.
But again, the Cardinal answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame.
The Titans committed a pair of errors in the inning, with Neil Walton's
two-base throwing error to open the frame costing Fullerton a run. After
a scoreless fourth, the Titans tied the game, 4-4, in the fifth thanks
to some wildness from Drew Ehrlich. Ehrlich uncorked three wild pitches
in the inning, including one that allowed Suzuki to score all the way
from second base.
Fullerton reclaimed a 6-4 lead in the sixth when Turner banged a two-run
single up the middle with two outs. But Stanford responded with the biggest
inning yet, a four-run spot in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by
Sam Fuld's two-run double off Tucker to give the Cardinal an 8-6 lead.
The teams will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
NOTE: Titan outfielder Sergio Pedroza was struck in the
face by a line drive during batting practice and was taken to the hospital.
X-rays revealed no breaks but he required six stitches. He was released
before the end of the game and joined the team on the bus for the post-game
talk.
