Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara matched up in a wacky contest that featured a Thomas Eshelman walk, a Joey Epperson strikeout, 18 runs and no resolution. There was a resolution at Dedeaux Field even though it took 13 innings.
That plus more in a roundup of Friday’s Southern California college baseball action with photo galleries from three of the matchups:
#15 Cal State Fullerton 9, #26 UC Santa Barbara 9 (11th inning – SUSPENDED)
Thomas Eshleman had the worst outing of his collegiate career. He even walked his second batter of the year, but Eshelman was still in line for the win: 6.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R (6 ER), BB, 4 K. But Justin Garza, making his first appearance since March 8, allowed the tying run to score in the eighth inning and neither team could get a run across in the ninth or tenth.
The game was then called due to darkness and will be resumed tomorrow at 1 p.m. PST with the regularly scheduled game to follow.
Utah 3, USC 2 (13 innings)
UCLA 8, Arizona 0
James Kaprielian allowed four hits in seven innings to improve to 5-3 on the season. He stymied the Arizona (15-20) offense while the UCLA (19-13) had its bats came to life, pounding 14 hits.
Brian Carroll had two doubles & two RBI. Trent Chatterton knocked in three runs with two hits, including a double, and Ty Moore had three hits, including a triple. Bobby Dalbec was the only Arizona hitter with multiple hits.
UC Irvine 6, Cal State Northridge 2
Andrew Morales (7-0) gave up his first runs at home this season, but the Irvine offense had already supplied him with an insurmountable six-run lead. Connor Spencer and Taylor Sparks hit back-to-back triples to plate three runs in the fifth inning and both scored twice. Jerry McClanahan drove in three runs for the Anteaters (22-11, 6-1).
The Matadors (13-20, 2-5) rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, but Sam Moore got the final three outs to record his nation-leading 14th save. Michael Livingston finished 2-for-4 with two RBI for Northridge.
Check out CBD photographer David Cohen’s top photos from the game :
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Nevada 4, San Diego State 2
The Aztecs (25-9, 10-6) were done in by three solo homers, falling 4-2 in the series opener at Nevada. Greg Allen was 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Ty France had an RBI double in the seventh inning, but struck out with two runners in scoring position to end the eighth inning.
Kyle Hunt, Kewby Meyer and Austin Byler each homered for the Wolfpack (17-14, 9-7). Barry Timko picked up the win, allowing two runs in six innings pitched.
Loyola Marymount 4, St. Mary’s 3
Loyola Marymount (20-14, 9-4) fell behind 3-0 early, but rallied for a 4-3 win with three runs in the seventh inning to give Colin Welmon (5-2) the win: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 6 K.
David Fletcher was 2-for-4 with a big two-run triple to tie the game in the seventh inning. He came in to score on Tommy Cheek’s nation-leading 10th sacrifice fly this season. Carlos Fuentes and Bret Dahlson pitched clean innings to lock the win up for the Lions.
Pepperdine 6, BYU 4
Matt Maurer got moved into the weekend rotation and made the most of the opportunity. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 5.1 innings to improve to 4-1 as Pepperdine (26-8, 11-3) evened the series with the Cougars.
It was the bat of Aaron Brown that got Maurer the win. He crushed a no-doubt, two-run home run in the first inning and later doubled home another run. Austin Davidson also added a solo homer. In the ninth inning, BYU (14-22, 5-9) scored two runs and had the bases loaded with one out, but Eric Karch got the final two outs for his 10th save of the year.
Check out how Brown’s stick work and also how he kept a run from scoring in the ninth inning:
San Diego 12, Portland 2
San Diego (24-9, 10-3) already had a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, but after an error allowed a run to score and the inning to continue, Andrew Daniel delivered the knockout blow to the Pilots (7-28, 1-12).
Daniel launched a grand slam to highlight his 2-for-5, 5 RBI day. Ben Wylly also had two hits while knocking in two runs in support of PJ Conlon. The diminutive lefty, Conlon, moved to 5-1 on the season after eight solid innings (6 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K).
#12 Oregon 7, UC Riverside 2
Tyler Baumgartner hit a bases-clearing double in the third inning and scored on a Kyle Garlick single. Oregon (25-10) never looked back. Garlick added a solo homer and Baumgartner doubled home another run later as the Ducks strolled to a 7-2 win.
Tommy Thorpe allowed only two hits and an unearned run in seven innings to earn his fifth win. David Andriese hit a solo homer in the ninth inning and scored both runs for UC Riverside (14-15).
UC Davis 7, Long Beach State 5
Andrew Rohrbach got hit around for 11 hits and four runs in 4.1 innings, but Long Beach State (15-17, 2-2) battled back to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning with a Colby Brenner RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Garrett Hampson.
UC Davis (15-15, 2-2) answered in the bottom half of the inning with three runs. The Aggies bullpen didn’t allow another hit in the game. Richard Prigatano was 3-for-4, R, RBI, 2 SB, BB, but UC Davis had three hitters knock three hits and drive in two runs: Steven Patterson, Nick Lynch and Spencer Brann.
#6 Cal Poly 3, Hawai’i 2
Matt Imhof struck out seven in six innings and Reed Reilly pitched three perfect 1-2-3 innings to lead Cal Poly (28-5, 6-1) to a series opening win at Hawai’i.
The Rainbows (14-17, 2-5) struck first with runs in the second and third innings, but Cal Poly evened the game up in the fifth inning scoring a run on a dropped fly ball and another on suicide squeeze bunt. The Mustangs showed their two-out magic once again in the sixth inning. A single and a walk put two men on for Tim Wise, who lined one back up the middle scoring Brian Mundell from second base.
THURSDAY
BYU 1, Pepperdine
Corey Miller loaded the bases in the ninth inning before being removed with one out. Lefty specialist Ivan Dilda came on to face Kelton Caldwell and got ahead in the count, but hung a two-strike curveball. Caldwell was able to drive the ball to right field, deep enough to allow Brennon Lund to tag up and score from third base.
That proved to be the difference as Pepperdine was unable to mount a rally in the ninth inning and managed only four hits on the day. Miller was tagged with the loss, despite lowering his ERA to 1.14: 8.1 IP, 8 H, ER, 0 BB, 5 K. BYU’s normal back-of-the-rotation starter Jeff Barker had one of his best outings of the year, throwing 7.1 innings, allowing no runs and only three hits.
Listen to what BYU head coach Mike Littlewood had to say about Barker and his pitching staff after Thursday’s game:
Check out CBD photographer Shotgun Spratling’s top shots from the afternoon action:
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