April 27, 2008

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - A two-out throwing error by shortstop Scott Heylman in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed the winning run to cross the plate as No. 15 Cal State Fullerton held on to beat UC Davis 8-5 Sunday afternoon, securing Cory Arbiso's eight win of the year, in the teams' Big West Conference baseball game at Goodwin Field.

Fullerton retained their first-place status in the Big West with the 2-1 series victory, and tallied its sixth straight series win. The Titans improve to 26-15 overall and 11-4 in league action. UC Davis drops to 25-15, and 7-5 in the Big West.

With the game tied 5-5, Fullerton scored three unearned runs in the seventh off reliever Trevor Fox (1-2), who entered the game at the beginning of the inning. A single by Christian Colon and a bloop-hit down the right field line by Jared Clark put Titans at the corners with two out and No. 5 five hitter Corey Jones at the plate. Jones hit a grounder to Heylman, which should have gotten the Aggies out of trouble, but the shortstop took something off the throw, that first baseman Evan Hudson could not handle. The error brought home Colon with the eventual game winner, and moved Clark to third.

After a pitching change, and a wild pitch that moved Jones to second, the Titans went to pinch hitter Brian Wilson, who came through with a two-run single that put the Titans up for good at 8-5. The hit secured the win for Arbiso (8-2) who has been victorious in his last eight starts. Adam Jorgenson pitched two perfect innings to notch his sixth save of the year.

Arbiso worked seven innings, surrendering nine and struck out four in the win. The righty also allowed five runs, only three earned, while walking three. Fox lasted just two-thirds of an inning in the hard-luck loss.

Davis tied the game in the top of the seventh as Ty Kelly drove home his second run of the game with a double to left. The two-bagger scored Ryan Royster who had walked and stole second to lead off the frame. Kelly moved to third on a groundout, then scored on a Joel Weeks throwing error from third base. Weeks' miscue was one of a season-high four errors on the day for Cal State Fullerton.

The see-saw battle started from the get-go, as Fullerton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A double by Josh Fellhauer, and a single by Colon, put runners on for Jaed Clark, who drove home Fellhauer with a grounder to short.

The Aggies took the lead in the top of the third, scoring twice after loading the bases with two outs. A mental and physical error by Colon at short scored Ryan Royster (aboard on a single) and Kelly (aboard on a walk). Colon was could not decided where to go with with his throw after fielding the grounder cleanly, but opted to go to third, and threw wild to Weeks, to give the Aggies the 2-1 lead.

Josh Fellhauer promptly took the game into his own hands and tied the game with a homer to right on the first pitch of the third inning off starter Bryan Evans. It was the centerfielder's fourth home run of the year.

Evans lasted just four innings, allowing five Titan runs on six hits in the no-decision.

After the Titans and Aggies traded runs in the fourth, Fullerton scored twice in the fifth to again take the lead, 5-3. Fellhauer, was again the center of attention as he doubled home Gary Brown with his third hit of the afternoon. With an out, and Fellhauer on third after a throwing error by the catcher, Erik Komatsu walked to put Titans on the corner. Fellhauer caught everyone off guard as he stole home on a routine throw to first to keep Komatsu close, just beating the first baseman's attempt on the relay.

The Titans out-hit the Aggies 10-8 on the afternoon, with Fellhauer's three hits leading all players. Kelly, Grant Hirniese and Colon each had two on the day.

Fellhauer Wilson and Kelly had two RBI apiece to lead all players.

The Titans host San Diego on Tuesday at Goodwin Field. No pitcher has been announced. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.