Romero Wins Second Round With Ramos, 7-2 May 20, 2005 – Fullerton, Calif
Box Score
It was a battle between two of the best pitchers in the country, between
two of the best teams in the country, but junior Ricky Romero and No.
1 Cal State Fullerton prevailed as the left-hander gave up just two hits
over his first seven innings, and six over eight, as the Titans downed
No. 10 Long Beach State 7-2 in Game 1 of a crucial Big West Conference
series Friday night.
The Titans, whose magic number is two to clinch the conference title,
improve to 39-12 overall and 14-2 in conference while the 49ers fall to
35-18 and 13-6. The Titans now lead the 49ers by three and a half games
with just five to play.
Romero dominated for the first four plus innings keeping a no-hitter intact
until a two-out, bloop-single by Danny Mocny broke it up. Romero who was
the recipient of dazzling defense on plays by infielders Ronnie Prettyman,
Blake Davis, Justin Turner and Brett Pill, finished the night with just
four strikeouts inducing12 fly balls to just six ground outs. The southpaw
improve his record to 11-4 on the year.
Long Beach’s Danny Mocney and Jordan Struble both collected a pair
of hits to lead the 49ers offensively. Long Beach scored twice off Romero
in a rough eighth inning as it knocked four hits including RBI singles
by Struble and Evan Longoria to give the visitors all the runs they would
get.
After scoring a run on a Brett Pill ground ball RBI in the first, Fullerton’s
Ronnie Prettyman, Bobby Andrew and Justin Turner all collected RBIs in
the bottom half of the second off losing pitcher Caesar Ramos who falls
to 10-6 on the year. Turner’s one-out single drove home two giving
the Titans a 5-0 advantage going into the third.
Sophomore Brett Pill added a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 6-0
in the fifth, and Blake Davis Singled home Danny Dorn aboard on the an
error by the 49er first baseman Brandon Godfrey to round out the Titan
scoring.
Vinnie Pestano pitched a scoreless ninth improving his scoreless inning
streak to 17 without a run crossing the plate, while surrendering just
three hits over that streak.
3,554 fans came out to see one of the best rivalries in college baseball
Friday night as it was the third largest gathering in Goodwin Field history.
The two foes will come out to battle again on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s
game will be nationally televised by CSTV with first pitch scheduled for
6 p.m. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on Fox College Sports with
that contest to start at 1:00 pm.
