There was some impressive pitching in Southern California Saturday. Four shutouts were thrown with Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly getting in on the action as they both evened big series.
San Diego and Cal State Northridge both swept doubleheaders while UC Riverside and Loyola Marymount dropped heartbreakers. UC Irvine got a big win over a ranked squad.
We’ve got your quick roundup of all the action, plus photo galleries from around the area:
#2 Cal State Fullerton 11, San Francisco 0
Justin Garza (7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 12 K) was back to his dominant self as the Titans evened their record (3-3) and the series with a an 11-0 shutout of San Francisco (3-3). Matt Chapman finally swung the stick like he is capable, producing his best game of the season: 4-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI. Clay Williamson added two hits and four RBI.
#22 Cal Poly 8, #10 UCLA 0
Freshman Slater Lee needed only 108 pitches to record a two-hit shutout of the defending national champions. Lee threw a first-pitch strike to all 31 batters he faced. Brian Mundell and Nick Torres supplied the offense for the Mustangs (5-1), each hitting three-run homers. Trent Chatterton reached base twice for UCLA (4-2).
San Diego 13, Northern Kentucky 3 (Gm 1)
The Toreros (4-1) hit three more homers to give them 10 long balls in five games. Connor Joe had the big blast with a second inning grand slam right down the left field line. Andrew Daniel and Brandon Defazio also homered. Daniel had three hits and three stolen bases while Defazio reached four times: 2-3, 4 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB. Northern Kentucky’s Logan Spurlin had three hits and homered for the Norse (1-5).
Here’s the top photos from CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling:
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San Diego 12, Northern Kentucky 0 (Gm 2)
For the fifth straight game, the Toreros put up double-digit runs. Louie Lechich and CJ Burdick combined for the eight-hit shutout with Burdick firing the last three innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five. Connor Joe was a monster at the plate: 4-for-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB.
Here’s CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling’s top photos from some of the game’s early action:
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USC 9, North Dakota State 0
Timmy Robinson and Jake Hernandez both reached base three times and drove in two runs while Dante Flores hit his first homer of the year. Bob Wheatley and three relievers combined for a four-hit shutout as USC improved to a perfect 6-0.
San Jose State 7, UC Santa Barbara 5
The Gauchos (2-1) scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game, but San Jose State (2-5) responded with a pair in the bottom half to hand UCSB its first loss. Santa Barbara had 16 hits, but left 11 men on base.
Cal State Northridge 14, Seattle 2 (Gm 1)
After having eight runs and 27 hits in their first five games, the Northridge (3-3) offense finally came to life with 14 runs and 20 hits. Catcher Alexis Mercado had a big game (4-5, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI) in support of his pitcher Brycen Rutherford, who picked up his first win with seven strong innings (6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K).
Here’s the top photos from CBD photographer David Cohen:
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Cal State Northridge 4, Seattle 3 (Gm 2)
The Matadors (4-3) got the doubleheader sweep of Seattle (4-3) with a 4-3 win. Chester Pak drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Pepperdine transfer Ranny Lowe had three hits and an RBI. The CSUN bullpen pitched 4.2 scoreless innings.
And CBD photographer David Cohen’s top photos from the second game:
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Texas State 8, UC Riverside 7 (10 innings)
In the 10th inning, Nick Vilter, who also homered, knocked a lead-off triple and came around to score, but in the bottom of the frame, Texas State (4-2) got a two-out, pinch-hit, two-run single from Granger Studdard. Francisco Tellez was 4-for-6 with a double, two runs and two RBI for the Highlanders (3-3).
#8 Oregon 5, Loyola Marymount 3
LMU’s bullpen faltered once again. The Lions (2-4) held a 3-0 lead entering the seventh inning, but the Ducks (6-0) scored two in seventh, the tying run in eighth and the go-ahead runs in the ninth to take a 5-3 victory. Starter Patrick McGrath pitched well for LMU (6.1 IP, 2 ER), but the bullpen? Not so much: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB.
It was a pair of freshman that starred for Oregon. Starter Matt Krook had 11 strikeouts in 6.1 innings and pinch hitter Mark Karaviotis had the two-out, go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning.
Long Beach State 4, Wright State 1
When Wright State (2-3) tied the game 1-1 in the sixth inning, Long Beach State (2-4) immediately responded. Garrett Hampson and Michael Hill hit back-to-back triples and Ino Patron singled Hill home. Richard Prigatano had another strong game (2-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SB), which is a great sign for the Dirtbags.
San Diego State 2, West Virginia 1 (10 innings)
Tyler Adkison beat out a double play with the bases loaded, allowing Tim Zier to score the winning run in the 10th inning and give the Aztecs (4-2) the win. Starters Bubba Derby (8 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 7 K) and West Virginia’s Sean Carley (7 IP, 7 H, UER, 0 BB, 9 K) battled back and forth.
SDSU’s top of the lineup duo of Greg Allen and Zier provided five hits and was on base providing pressure all night. Michael Cederoth (1-1) picked up the win in relief.
CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling captured the walk-off win:
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UC Irvine 5, #19 Arizona State 2
Irvine (3-3) ace Andrew Morales (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) out-pitched freshman All-American Ryan Kellogg (6 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K. The ‘Eaters knocked five hits and scored three runs in the first inning, which was enough for Morales. Grant Palmer had three hits and scored two runs for Irvine. Sam Moore picked up his second save with two shutout innings.
Pepperdine 9, Utah Valley 2
The Waves (5-1) blew the game open with a five-run eighth inning. Jackson McClelland improved to 2-0 this season, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. Pepperdine had seven starters record multiple hits led by Brad Anderson, who was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks and a hit by pitch. Anderson scored two runs and drove in two runs.
