Sophomores Steal the Show on Senior Day May 17, 2005 – Fullerton, Calif
Box Score
Brett Pill’s three RBI singles and John Curtis’ walk-off double
in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted Cal State Fullerton to a 5-4 non-conference
victory over the University of San Diego Tuesday afternoon/night in a
four-hour and forty minute marathon at Goodwin Field.
With the win, the Titans improve to 38-12 to lead them into a key weekend
series with conference rival Long Beach State in a battle for the league
title. San Diego falls to 30-27-1, wrapping up their 2005 campaign.
Fullerton threw nine arms out on the hill against the Toreros with freshman
Jared Clark being the benefactor of Curtis’ one-out knock to center.
Clark worked a scoreless top of the 13th surrendering only one walk improving
to 1-1 on the season.
Matthew Falk, San Diego’s fourth pitcher of the night, worked 3.1
innings allowing just two hits while striking out three picking up the
loss.
With Ronnie Prettyman aboard on an error by shortstop Steve Singleton,
Falk served up the one-out pitch that Curtis drove to center. Center fielder
Justin Snyder’s first step was in, giving him no chance at the ball
hit just over his head, allowing Prettyman to score from second base.
Faulk finishes the 2005 season with a 3-5 record.
The Toreros jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as they got
to reliever Adam Jorgenson. Jorgenson, in relief of senior starter Scott
Sarver, gave up an RBI-double to Snyder, an RBI-single to Keoni Ruth and
a run-scoring grounder that was booted by Titan shortstop Blake Davis
to give the Titans a hole they had to dig out of. Ryan Schreppel came
to Jorgenson’s rescue in the fourth, as with the bases loaded, he
got Ruth to pop up to end the inning.
Fullerton scraped and clawed their way back into the game due in large
part to sophomore first baseman Brett Pill. Pill came up big in the third,
fifth and seventh innings as he collected RBI singles in three consecutive
at bats, with the one in the seventh tying the game at four runs a piece.
Sergio Pedroza added the other Titan RBI with a one-out triple to drive
in Davis who doubled two batters earlier.
Fullerton thwarted San Diego’s last threat as with the bases loaded,
Titan pitcher Dave Pherrin stepped off the mound just in time to catch
Shane Buschini trying to steal home with two outs in the 12th inning ending
a potential two-out rally.
Titan right-hander Vinnie Pestano continued his recent dominance out of
the bullpen throwing another 3.0 scoreless innings of baseball without
allowing a hit while striking out two. Pestano’s last 16 innings
of work has resulted in him surrendering no runs and just three hits.
Justin Turner, the designated hitter, finished the day with a game-leading
4-for-5 performance including three doubles, two of which resulted in
runs. Pill was the other Titan leader adding three hits of his own.
Snyder led the San Diego squad with a pair of hits including a double
and an RBI while also scoring two runs.
Four Cal State Fullerton seniors were honored in a ceremony before the
game. Ronnie Prettyman, Mark Carroll, Felipe Garcia and Scott Sarver are
each in their final season in a Titan uniform, and all started today’s
game. Garcia, with a broken foot, was announced as the designated hitter,
then replaced with pinch-hitter Turner after stepping into the batter’s
box. Carroll, typically a late inning defensive replacement or a pinch
runner, got his first start of the year.
Fullerton continues its brief four-game home stand as they host Long Beach
State this weekend in a Big West showdown. Friday night will feature two
of the nation’s top pitchers in Ricky Romero and Caesar Ramos in
a 7 p.m. match-up at Goodwin Field. Saturday’s game will start at
6 p.m. with the Sunday afternoon affair starting at 1 p.m.
