Ricky Romero struck out 13 over seven innings of work to
lead No. 4 Cal State Fullerton (10-2) to a 7-0 win over Oklahoma (8-3)
improving to 2-0 in the Kia Baseball Bash Saturday night in front of 1,853
fans at Goodwin Field.
Romero improved to 4-0 and helped secure the second Titan shutout of the
day by allowing only 5 hits and walking only one Sooner. Ryan Schreppel
and Wes Roemer blanked Nevada in the first game on Saturday. The Titan
pitching staff have now tossed three shutouts in their last four outings.
The Titans used an RBI-single by Ronnie Prettyman in the fourth inning
and a single, a double and a scoring fly ball by Justin Turner in the
fifth to take a 2-0 lead over Oklahoma starter Steven Guerra. That is
all the scoring the Titans would need as Guerra picked up the loss and
fell to 2-1.
OU’s P.J. Sandoval came in relief of Guerra and pitched 1.2 scoreless
innings before the Titans tagged him for five runs in the eighth inning.
Fullerton used seven hits including Brett Pill’s leadoff double
to push five runs across taking the lead to 7-0. Pill’s double extended
his hitting streak to 12 games.
The only real threat to Romero was after two singles by Russell Raley
and Eric Thornton, he balked giving the Sooners men at second and third
with one out. Romero proceeded to strike out the next two batters to end
the Sooners’ chances.
Between the fourth through sixth innings, Romero struck out six out of
seven Oklahoma hitters including five in a row at one point.
Vinnie Pestano came on in relief of Romero and pitched two scoreless innings
to earn his second save of the year. He surrendered just two hits and
struck out three men.
Five Fullerton starters collected double-digits in hits with Blake Davis
leading the way with three. Danny Dorn, Felipe Garcia, Ronnie Prettyman
and John Curtis each added two.
Fullerton will conclude the Kia Baseball Bash with a game against cross-towners
UCLA at 4:30 pm. Scott Saver (2-1) will get the nod for the Titans.
