Juniors Ricky Romero and Ryan Schreppel combined for seven scoreless innings
and eleven strikeouts as the 2005 Cal State Fullerton baseball team defeated
the Titan Alumni team 4-1 Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
Romero looked sharp going four innings allowing only two hits, one of
which came from former teammate Kurt Suzuki in the third inning. Romero
also stuck out the first four batters of the game including Reed Johnson
(1997-99), Mark Kotsay (1994-96) and Aaron Rowand (1996-98), all current
Major Leaguers.
Schreppel thwarted the Alumni’s only real threat, when with runners
at first and second and one out in the seventh, he stuck out Tony Miranda
(1994-95) and “Bobby Blast” to end the inning. Schreppel finished
the day with three scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
The Titans took and early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Third
baseman Ronnie Prettyman had a scoring fly ball to drive in Danny Dorn,
followed by an RBI single by Bobby Andrews, scoring Justin Turner from
second base to get the Titans going.
Alumni pitchers Darric Merrell (2001-03), Shane Waroff (2001), Brent Billingsly
(1996) and Matt Wagner (1994) kept the Titan offense until the seventh
inning. Designated hitter, Jared Clark knocked a two-run single to left
off reliever Eddy Delzer (1983-84) to put the Titans up 4-0.
The Alumni’s only run came in the top of the eighth when Greg Jacobs
(1998) advanced to second on an error by pitcher Wes Roemer and then scored
on a throwing error by third baseman Evan McArthur.
Bobby Andrews and Danny Dorn both went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
Jacobs led the Alumni with two singles, while Suzuki, Johnson, Miranda,
Shane Costa (2001-03) and D.C. Olsen (1992-95) each had one.
Nearly 60 Alumni were on hand at Saturday’s Alumni Game sponsored
by Mercedes-Benz. Among them were 6 current Major Leaguers: Phil Nevin
(San Diego), Chad Cordero (Washington Nationals), Mike Lamb (Houston),
Kotsay (Oakland), Rowand (Chicago White Sox) and Johnson (Toronto).
Fullerton ranked No. 3 by Baseball America will open the 2005 season by
hosting No. 6 Stanford next weekend. Friday night’s game at Goodwin
Field will begin at 7 p.m.