Wes Roemer (1-1) earned his first collegiate win with an eight-inning,
6-hitter as No. 2 Cal State Fullerton (19-7, 1-1) defeated UC Irvine (14-12,
1-1) 6-1 in a Big West Conference college baseball game Saturday night
at Goodwin Field.
The freshman right-hander Roemer took a shutout into the top of the ninth
before the Anteaters strung together three consecutive hits to load the
bases. Reliever Vinnie Pestano came on to pick up for Roemer, and allowed
just a lone single to designated hitter Danny McCarthy for Irvine’s
only run. Roemer finished the night striking out six, while Pestano registered
two including the final out of the game.
The Titans took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first highlighted by a
two-out double by Ronnie Prettyman driving in Brett Pill all the way from
first base. Blake Davis tripled to lead off the game for the third time
in five games, eventually scoring on a Pill fielder’s choice.
Fullerton added four more in the bottom half of the third with as Sergio
Pedroza connected for a three-run home run off Justin Cassel to give the
Titans a 5-0 lead. It was Pedroza’s eighth round-tripper of the
year. Prettyman singled two batters later and eventually came around to
score on a squeeze bunt by left fielder Trevor Mortensen to end the Titan
scoring.
Anteater right-handed pitcher Cassel (3-2) went the distance and picked
up the loss as he surrendered the Titans six earned runs on just 84 pitches.
Five Titans accounted for the 10 hits, with Davis collecting three, Pedroza,
Prettyman and Felipe Garcia with two and Mortensen adding a double in
his final at bat.
The two teams will meet up again Sunday for the rubber-match as the first
pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Scott Sarver (3-2, 8.25 ERA) will be on
the hill for the Titans with the Irvine spot still undetermined
