Unearned Run Enables Cal State Fullerton to Even Big West Series, 2-1

Friday, April 3

Fullerton, CA

7 pm

10-17, 1-1

Cal State Fullerton

15-14, 3-2

Cal Poly

Cal State Fullerton

Unearned Run Enables Cal State Fullerton to Even Big West Series, 2-1

4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton took advantage of two Cal Poly errors in the sixth inning, scoring an unearned run to snap a 1-1 tie, and the Titans held on for the 2-1 victory over Cal Poly in a Big West Conference baseball game Friday night at Goodwin Field.

An error in center field and another on a potential inning-ending double play ball extended the inning for Cal State Fullerton and designated hitter Jake Jefferies pushed across the go-ahead run with a grounder.

Cal Poly left runners at second and third in the seventh, first and second in the eighth and junior first baseman Ryan Drobny was thrown out at second base trying to stretch a leadoff single into a double in the ninth.

With the win, Cal State Fullerton improved to 15-14 for the season and 3-2 in Big West games, evening the three-game series at a game apiece. Cal Poly fell to 10-17 and 1-1.

Mustang freshman southpaw Kyle Smith (2-5) (pictured above) pitched well enough to win most games, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits over eight innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.

He picked off one runner in the fourth and nearly picked off another but Justin Vargas managed to steal second as the throw from first to second was wide and high of the bag. Cal State Fullerton went on to score its first run in the inning and tallied the unearned run on two errors in the sixth to break the deadlock.

Junior right-hander Justin Garza (2-2) notched the victory for the Titans, allowing one run and seven hits over 7 2/3 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. Willie Kuhl walked the only batter he faced, but closer Tyler Peitzmeyer earned his 10th save by securing the final four outs of the game.

Cal Poly scored its lone run in the first inning with two outs. Designated hitter Brian Mundell walked, senior left fielder Zack Zehner singled up the middle and junior right fielder John Schuknecht's bloop single to center field scored Mundell.

Cal Poly outhit Cal State Fullerton 8-5, led by Zehner and senior center fielder Jordan Ellis, each with two hits. Zehner's sixth-inning double with two outs was the lone extra-base hit of the game for the Mustangs.

Cal State Fullerton's five hits were singles by five different batters.

Rubber game of the series will be played Saturday at 1 o'clock with freshman right-hander Andrew Bernstein (3-2, 3.26 ERA) of Cal Poly to face Cal State Fullerton freshman southpaw John Gavin (3-1, 4.79 ERA).