March 26, 2006

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - No. 4 Cal State Fullerton used back-to-back three run innings to complete a three-game sweep of arch rival Long Beach State, 6-2, in a non-conference baseball game at Goodwin Field Sunday afternoon.

Fullerton picked up its third-consecutive series sweep, and fifth overall and improved to 20-7 with just Tuesday's tilt with Loyola Marymount remaining before Big West Conference play begins next weekend. Long Beach dropped its seventh game in a row and fell to 12-15.

Dustin Miller went 6.1 innings, scattering six hits, surrendering just one run to grab is sixth victory to only one loss. Despite hitting four batters on the day (including Evan Longoria who had to leave the game after being hit in the head), Miller struck out five and used his defense to get him out of trouble. Fullerton turned four double plays on the afternoon, three while Miller was on the hill.

The Titans scored three times in the bottom of the second off losing pitcher Donnie Hume (0-3). Hume lasted just and inning and two-thirds, surrendering hits to Cory Vanderhook, Evan McArthur, and Justin Turner, with Vanderhook and McArthur scoring on back-to-back sacrifice flys by Joe Turgeon and Brandon Tripp. Turner later scored with the run charged to Hume, as relief pitcher Scott Turmail walked in a run with the bases loaded.

After Long Beach scored a run in the top of the third to inch back into the game at 3-1, Fullerton played a little long-ball with reliever Shane Peterson. Following a Vanderhook strikeout, Evan McArthur took a Peterson offering over the center field fence for his third home run of the year. Turgeon drew a four-pitch walk and was promptly driven home as Brandon Tripp hit his team-leading fourth homer of the season, also to center field.

Peterson would pitch just one inning before moving back to the designated hitter's spot. The right-hander allowed three runs on two hits, also walking a man in his six-batter outing.

The Titans carried a 6-1 lead going into the top of the ninth inning with Justin Klipp on the mound after relieving Miller's replacement Ryan Paul with two outs in the eighth. But Long Beach would force Titan skipper George Horton to call for the closer Vinnie Pestano after scoring a run off Klipp, putting the tying run on deck for the 49ers.

After earning the win Friday night and a save on Saturday night, Pestano came in to strike out Longoria's replacement Edgar Sedano for the final out of the game. Pestano lowered his ERA to 0.43 and earned his tenth save of the season.

Fullerton out-hit Long Beach 10-9 on the day and was led by its third baseman McArthur who went 4-for-4 and scored two runs. Long Beach's Jose Hernandez and Robert Perry each combined for six of the 49er's nine hits, each racking up three in the losing effort.

Tripp had the two-run homer and a sacrifice fly to lead all players with three RBI.

Fullerton will next head to Loyola Marymount Tuesday afternoon for a mid-week tune up for next weekend's conference opener with Cal State Northridge. Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at LMU's George C. Page Stadium.