No. 2 Cal State Fullerton (23-8, 5-1), behind a solid outing from senior
Scott Sarver and a 3-for-4 performance by Sergio Pedroza, completed a
weekend sweep of Cal State Northridge (12-17-1, 0-6) with a 8-1 Big West
Conference victory Sunday afternoon at Matador Field.
Scott Sarver improved to 4-2 with seven strong innings of work collecting
five strikeouts along the way. After allowing back-to-back leadoff singles
in the first, Sarver proceeded to retire 12 of the next 13 batters before
allowing a single to Michael Paulk in the bottom of the fifth. Paulk came
on to score later that inning on a single by catcher Adam Fleener after
moving to third on an errant throw by Sarver.
It was a close 2-1 ballgame in favor of Fullerton before the Titans capitalized
on two costly Northridge errors in the top of the seventh as they touched
home five times, extending their lead to 7-1. The visitors collected five
hits in the seventh with Pedroza’s one-out, two-RBI single coming
as the big blow. The Titans cleared the bases as with the bases loaded,
Pedroza chopped a ball into right field driving in two before outfielder
Alberto Quintana misplayed the ball allowing Pedroza to move to second
and Justin Turner to third. A bad throw back into the infield from Quintana
then allowed Turner to score on the play, as they caught Pedroza trying
to advance to third.
Jimmy Brettl (0-4) pitched effectively through six innings before getting
roughed up in the seventh. The righty finished the day going 6.2 innings
allowing seven runs (4 earned) on nine hits while fanning two in the losing
effort.
The Titans added another run in the top of the ninth off of reliever Peter
Eberhardt, with one out and runners at first and third, Turner and Brandon
Tripp successfully completed a double steal with Turner scoring the Titans
43rd and final run of the weekend.
Vinnie Pestano pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth in relief of Sarver
to wrap up the weekend that saw the Titan pitching staff not allow an
earned run to the Matadors in 27 innings.
Pedroza led all players with three hits, with Ronnie Prettyman and Bobby
Andrews adding two each to the mix. Evan McArthur picked up another pinch-hit
RBI with a double to left. He is now 6-for-10 coming off the bench.
Fullerton will next travel to USC on Tuesday to make up a rained out game
from the middle of February. Game time from Dedeaux Field will be 7:00
p.m. The Titans will be back at Goodwin Field April 15-17 to host the
Pacific Tigers. Games times will be Friday night at 7 p.m., Saturday night
at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
