** TICKET INFORMATION FOR MONDAY ** Tickets for Monday's game against Arizona and Cal State Fullerton
will go on sale Monday morning at the Athletic Ticket Office at the Titan
House on campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will also be available
at the gate to Goodwin Field beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Junior lefthander Ryan Schreppel scattered just six hits in 8 2/3 innings
of work while Danny Dorn and Ronnie Prettyman each added three hits as
top-seeded Cal State Fullerton lived to fight another day, defeating second-seeded
Arizona, 7-2, on Sunday night in front of 2,169 fans at Goodwin Field.
The victory improved the Titans' record to 44-16 and forced a deciding
seventh game in this regional against the Wildcats at 6 p.m. (PDT). Arizona
fell to 39-20 overall.
Schreppel, just over two months removed from knee surgery, allowed only
two runs in his career-long outing, striking out six to improve to 6-0
overall on the season. His previous season high was eight innings twice
against Fresno State (Feb. 13) and Nevada (March 5).
Junior Vinnie Pestano, who earned the save in the Titans' first elimination
game of the day against Missouri, induced pinch-hitter Derek Decater into
a game-ending fielder's choice to close things out.
Sean Rierson (3-3) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on eight
hits, walking one and striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings of work. Brad
Mills and Matt Baugh combined to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing
a run on three hits.
Fullerton jumped out early, plating a run in the fourth on an RBI double
to the gap in right centerfield by Dorn, and scoring three more in the
fifth on Sergio Pedroza's 15th home run of the season to make it 4-0.
Arizona cut the deficit in half in the sixth thanks to a home run of its
own. Brad Boyer ended a streak of 10 straight Wildcats retired by Schreppel
with a single and later scored on Jeff Van Houten's ninth home run of
the season to make it 4-2.
The Wildcats threatened to score more, loading the bases thanks to a single
and back-to-back walks, but Schreppel induced Jason Donald to ground out
to third to end the threat.
That would be as close as Arizona would get as Fullerton added a pair
of runs in the seventh on RBI hits by Justin Turner and a bases-loaded
bunt single by Ronnie Prettyman to make it 6-2.
Fullerton completed the scoring in the ninth as Prettyman doubled to right
centerfield, driving home Dorn with the Titans' seventh and final run.
Dorn finished 3-for-4 on the night while Prettyman went 3-for-5 at the
plate to lead the offense. Pedroza also finished with multiple hits, going
2-for-5 at the plate. Arizona's offense was paced by Van Houten, who was
2-for-3 for the game.
QUOTES CAL STATE FULLERTON QUOTES Cal State Fullerton Head
Coach George Horton (On winning twice) “We’re still alive.
It was obviously a special performance that we were hoping Ryan (Schreppel)
could give us. We set the defensive tempo and played good catch
as we usually do behind him, and just kind of grinded it out offensively.
It was nice to see Sergio Pedroza back like he’s been all year basically
for us. He had a little bit of a swell there, and got hot in the
first game, and obviously continued that in this game. I just commend
my guys.”
Cal State Fullerton Outfielder Sergio Pedroza (On whether his approach at the plate changed during his
slump) “I did the same thing. I stuck with the process.
I wasn’t getting rewarded. Sometimes it happens in hitting.
I talked to Ken Ravizza (team sports psychologist) and he told me it was
going to happen eventually as long as you don’t let it get to you.”
Cal State Fullerton Pitcher Ryan Schreppel (On facing Arizona) “I knew they were a tough team
and every mistake I made, they seemed to hit. I knew I had to be
tough. The offense produced for us big time and I just tried to
keep us in the game, that was my main focus.”
ARIZONA QUOTES Arizona Head Coach Andy Lopez (On the game) “Congratulations to Fullerton.
It was pretty simple, (Ryan) Schreppel did a marvelous job. Pitching
sets the tone, and he set a real solid tone for those guys.”
Arizona Outfielder Trevor Crowe (On the team’s play) “We just need to play better
baseball. I think we did that the first two days. Today we
struggled a little bit. We just need to get back on track tomorrow.”
(On his own struggles at the plate) “Personally I’m shocked
at the way I’m playing so poorly. If there’s one guy
that you could shoulder the blame, it’s 100 percent without a doubt
myself. I’m doing an absolute horrible job getting this offense
going. That is my job, so if I’m the guy, I’ll show
up tomorrow. If I’m not, that will be proved by my performance
tomorrow.”
Arizona Outfielder Jeff Van Houten (On Ryan Schreppel’s pitching) “I thought he
did a great job. He located his pitches well, he was down in the
zone and he kept us off balance.”
Arizona Shortstop Jason Donald (On playing under adversity) “I think we definitely
have a lot of experience in this type of atmosphere, as well as having
our backs against the wall. It’s never been easy for us, so
we’re right back where we started. It’s not easy.”
