May 10, 2008

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Southpaw Jared Eskew held No. 12 Cal State Fullerton (31-17, 14-6) to one run on four hits as Cal Poly (23-25, 7-10) upset the Titans 11-4 Saturday night in a Big West Conference game at Goodwin Field.

Eskew improved to 5-2 as he held the Titan lineup to just four hits over seven innings, three of which came over his final two innings of work. The Titans broke through with their only run off the starter as pinch-hitter Matthew Fahey doubled home Khris Davis who had walked.

The Mustang offense jumped all over the Titan offense starting with Daniel Renken (4-5) who took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over two innings, his shortest start of the year.

Six Mustangs finished with two-or-more hits on the night led by Logan Schafer, Brent Morel and Ryan Lee, who each tallied three hits on the night.

Cal Poly hit for the cycle in the first inning with Pat Pezet tripling into the right field corner to drive in the first Mustang run. And Adam Melker hit his first home run of the year to cap the three-run inning in which the Mustangs never looked back.

Brian Wilson tossed the only 1-2-3 inning for Cal State Fullerton in the ninth, as Travis Kelly (1R, 2.2 IP), Jason Dovel (2 R, 1 IP) and Ryan Ackland (3 R, 2.1 IP) were all touched for at least a run in their stints on the hill. The 16 Cal Poly hits on the night were the most the Titan pitching staff had allowed since USC collected 20 on Apr. 15.

Joe Scott was the only Titan starter to pick up two hits on the night, while Fahey logged a pair after coming into the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. In three innings, six Titan subs were able to collect as many hits (4) off Cal Poly as the starting lineup was able to for the first six frames.

The Titans added three runs off Kevin Castner in the ninth, two on a Jon Wilhite double, and the last on a Joe Scott single before he was caught in a run-down between first and second to end the game.

Wes Dorell led all players with four RBI on the night, Brent Morel (CP) and Wilhite (CSF) each had two.

The rubber-game of the three-game series will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday (May 11), with Cory Arbiso on the hill for Cal State Fullerton.

NOTES: Cal State Fullerton officially entered former long-time coaches George Horton and Rick Vanderhook into their Ring of Honor for their contributions to the baseball program dating back to the Titans Div. I beginnings in 1975. The two distinguished coaches were on hand for a pre-game ceremony and threw out the honorary first pitches before Saturday evening's ballgame.