Long Beach, Calif. – No. 8 Cal State Fullerton extended its win streak to eight games with a 6-0 shutout of Long Beach State in a non-conference game on Friday night at Blair Field.
The Titans (19-3), scored six runs on six hits in support Thomas Eshelman's (5-1) effort of seven shutout innings. The freshman right-hander allowed just one hit and walked no one, taking his no hitter into the fifth when Eric Hutting broke it up with a single into shallow right field. The native of Carlsbad, Calif., has now tossed 42 innings without issuing a walk.
Right-hander Shane Carle (1-3) was the tough-luck loser for Long Beach State (9-13), tossing six and 2/3 innings and allowing only three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks while fanning five.
Michael Lorenzen helped the Titans strike first, driving Carle's 2-2 offering over the left field wall as Fullerton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Lorenzen finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two runs scored.
In the third, Fullerton took a 2-0 lead after Austin Dimer led off the top of the frame with single to left. He moved into scoring position as Richy Pedroza safely bunted him over, and scored as Carlos Lopez drove a RBI single into left center.
In the seventh, Fullerton took advantage of two Long Beach State (9-13) miscues after a base hit and sacrifice had Chad Wallach sitting at second with two outs. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored as 49er shortstop Michael Hill committed his second fielding error of the game, giving the Titans a 3-0 edge.
In the eighth with Ty Provencher on the mound in relief for the 49ers, the Titans put three runs on the board to put the game out of reach. With the bases loaded, Provencher issued ball four to Keegan Dale, before Diemer found a hole through the left side with a two-run single.
Diemer also had a 2-for-4 night for the Titans.
J.D. Davis pitched the final two innings for the Titans, shutting out the 49ers on one hit while striking out two. Davis and Eshelman combined to hold the 49ers to just two hits in nine innings, a new opponent season low for the Titans.
The Titans and 49ers play game two of this weekend's non-conference series at 2 p.m., Saturday.
Notes: Fullerton's 19-3 start is the best for the program since the 1996 squad opened the year 31-2…the Titans' six hits matches a season low. Fullerton has produced only six hits in all but one of its Friday-night games in 2013: USC (Feb. 15), No. 14 Oregon (March 1), Texas A&M (March 8), Oral Roberts (March 15) …the Titans shut out an opponent for the fifth time this season, with Eshelman pitching in his second combined shutout…Eshelman's streak of 42 innings without a walk is the longest for Fullerton since Wes Roemer tossed 65 and 2/3 innings in 2006 without issuing a base on balls…the Titans' extended their winning streak to eight games...LBSU's two hits was a new Fullerton opponent season low.