April 11, 2008

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Senior Jeff Kaplan (5-2) tossed a complete-game shutout and struck out 11 in No. 16 Cal State Fullerton's lopsided 12-0 win over Cal State Northridge Friday night in a Big West Conference college baseball game at Goodwin Field.

Fullerton snaps Northridge's four-game winning streak and improves their overall record to 19-11 and lifts their league record to 5-2. Northridge falls to 13-15, 3-4.

The Titans pounded out 18 hits off seven Matador arms, led by reigning Big West Player of the Week Christian Colon. Colon was one of four Titans with multiple hits on the evening, and finished with two RBI. Corey Jones added a pair of RBI with a fielder's choice grounder and a single to center.

Kaplan gave up just one hit through the first five innings, retiring 14 of 15 hitters along the way with the only runner to reach base being Billy Swanson, aboard on a catcher's interference call. His 11 strikeouts tied a career-high set last February against Arizona. Kaplan finished surrendering just five hits, two by Swanson.

The Titans scored in each of the first five innings including four off starting pitcher Ryan Juarez (1-2), who lasted just 1.2 innings and picked his second loss of the year. Three of Juarez's runs were unearned courtesy of two of CSUN's three errors on the night.

As the only bright spot for the visitors, the last three Matador hurlers Eric Billings, Taylor Austin and Paul Tremlin did hold Fullerton two just four hits over the last three innings and did not allow a run.

Dustin Garneau led all players with three RBI on the night, with a third-inning bases-loaded clearing double down the left field line.

Erik Komatsu had two doubles and a single and drove in a run as he extended his Fullerton-best 14-game hitting streak. Joel Weeks also picked up a three-hit night.

The two squads will meet Saturday night at 6 p.m. with Daniel Renken (3-1) toeing the rubber for Fullerton and Phil Hann (1-3) going for Northridge.