March 7, 2008

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Freshman Jason Dovel (1-0) tossed 5.2 innings of two-hit relief and picked up his first collegiate win as Cal State Fullerton beat Southern Miss 4-1 in a non-conference baseball game at Goodwin Field Friday night.

Fullerton, winners of its lasts three and in its first meeting with Southern Miss, improved to 6-4 on the year in with the win. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-4.

Titan starter Adam Jorgenson labored for the first 2.1 innings, and was lifted for Dovel after surrendering a solo homer to Drew Carson, then loading the bases with a single a hit batter and a walk. Dovel inherited a bases-loaded, one out situation and work out of it perfectly with a strikeout and groundout to keep the game tied at one.

Dovel finished the night by retiring the last 10 in a row and 17 of the 19 hitters he faced. The Buena Park native surrendered just a single in the fourth and a double in the fifth en route to setting a season/career high in innings pitched (5.2) and strikeouts (6).

The Titans jumped ahead to stay in the fourth off Southern Miss starter and losing pitcher Barry Bowden (2-1) as Jared Clark led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Clark scored a batter later as Corey Jones singled up the middle to drive home the eventual game winning run.

Bowden finished the night by going five complete, giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking and striking out four.

Fullerton added two more runs in the seventh and eighth off relievers Colin Cargill and J.R. Balliger, respectively.

Three straight singles by Josh Fellhauer, Eric Komatsu and Jared Clark (RBI) produced the Titans third run of the evening in the seventh extending the Titans' lead to 3-1. And for good measure, Khris Davis singled with two outs in the eighth, stole second then scored on a throwing error by USM third baseman Josh Fields a batter later to set up a shaky, but successful first save of the season for Brian Wilson.

A fine defensive play by Joel Weeks handed the Titans the first out of the ninth. Wilson hit James Ewing, then walked pinch hitter Anthony Doss before striking out Brian Dozier for the second out of the inning. Wilson walked the next hitter Carson to load the bases for No. 4 hitter Kyle Maxie, but struck him out to secure the Titan victory.

Davis, Fellhauer, Clark and Jones each contributed a pair of hits as Fullerton out-hit the Golden Eagles 10-6 on the night. Fellhauer extended his hitting streak to eight games with an RBI single in the first. USM catcher Keith Whinstead paced his team with two doubles.

The two teams will meet Saturday night at 6 p.m. in game two of the three-game series at Goodwin Field.