Four Titans collected a pair of RBI and Ricky Romero snapped his three-game
losing streak as Cal State Fullerton (21-8, 3-1) downed Cal State Northridge
(10-15-1, 0-4) 11-1 in the opening game of a three-game Big West Conference
series at Matador Field.
Brett Pill, Danny Dorn, Felipe Garcia and Ronnie Prettyman each collected
two RBI as the Titans scored four times in the fourth and three times
in the eighth to avoid a fourth consecutive series-opening loss. With
the loss, Northridge drops their fifth consecutive game and fourth in
Big West play.
Ricky Romero (6-3), the hard-luck loser of those three straight losses,
picks up his first win since March 11 versus Tulane in New Orleans. The
southpaw allowed the Matadors to out-hit the Titans surrendering 10 hits
over seven innings of work, but fanned seven giving up only one earned
run in the third inning.
Fullerton extended their lead in the top half of the third to 3-0 on Danny
Dorn’s fourth home run of the year (a solo shot) before exploding
for four runs in the top of the fourth. After one of Blake Davis’
three hits on the day and two walks, Brett Pill delivered the big blow,
a two run RBI single to center. Behind a walk to Danny Dorn, Garcia and
Prettyman followed by driving their second runs of the day. Garcia extended
the Titan lead by singling with Prettyman picking up an RBI on a chopper
back to the pitcher.
Matador starter Joe Rocchio allowed seven runs on six hits, surrendering
seven walks to the Titan hitters dropping his season record to 2-5.
Fullerton added four runs in the eighth and ninth innings off of relievers
Matt Gaylord and Eric Sweeny as both innings were extended by throwing
errors by Matador infielders giving the Titans a 10-run lead.
Sergio Pedroza flirted with an NCAA record as he was walked five times
in five trips top the plate. Four of those times came by way of an intentional
walk. The NCAA record for walks to one player in a game is 6.
The two teams will meet for another afternoon affair tomorrow at Matador
Field. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. Titan right-hander Wes Roemer will
be on the hill for Fullerton with Craig Baker getting the nod for Northridge.
