LONG BEACH, Calif. – No. 8 Cal State Fullerton completed its series sweep of Long Beach State with a 2-1 non-conference victory over the 49ers on Sunday afternoon at Blair Field.
The Titans (21-3) took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth and starter Grahamm Wiest returned to the mound for Fullerton. After surrendering a base hit to Michael Hill, Michael Lorenzen was called in from centerfield for his second save attempt in as many days.
A second LBSU (9-14) single from Richard Prigatano and a sacrifice had the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second. The 49ers appeared to tie the game as Hill scored from third on Eric Hutting's sacrifice fly, but the Titans appealed, and in a wild finish, Hill was ruled out for leaving early, ending the game in Fullerton's favor.
With the win, Fullerton extends its win streak to 10 games.
Wiest (4-1) was dominant on the mound, allowing just one run on seven hits, while striking out a career-best nine in eight innings of work.
Lorenzen was able to secure his eighth save of the season, and 12th in a row dating back to last year. He shut out the 49ers in the ninth, allowing one hit.
Long Beach State starter David Hill (0-2) had a solid outing in the loss. Allowing just two runs on five hits, while walking four and striking out two, pitching six and 2/3 innings.
Fullerton left nine runners stranded on a season-low tying six hits and four walks.
Cal State Fullerton took a 1-0 advantage in the fourth as Jared Deacon's one-out RBI single to right center allowed Lorenzen to score from second. Lorenzen was drilled to lead off the fourth, and moved into scoring position on a fly ball to right field.
The Titans' advantage increased to 2-0 as David Hill issued a leadoff walk to Keegan Dale, followed by a RBI double that Richy Pedroza roped into right field over the head of Pigatano, allowing Dale to make his way around the bases.
Long Beach State cut Fullerton's lead in half in the bottom of the fifth as Jonathan Serven reached to lead off the inning on a bunt single placed down the third baseline. He moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Ino Patron drove a two-out double into centerfield.
Deacon led the Titans at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance.
Notes: Fullerton's 21-3 start is the best for the program since the 1996 squad opened the year 31-2…Cal State Fullerton is now on a 10-game win streak…the Titans hold a 127-60 advantage in the all-time series against LBSU, including a 40-15 edge since 2003…for the first time in five attempts this season, Michael Lorenzen was caught stealing…Cal State Fullerton's 10-game win streak matches its longest of the season as the Titans started the year winning their first 10 (Feb. 15 – Mar. 2). The Titans last produced two 10-game win streaks in the same season in 2001; 14 games (March 25-April 18) and 10 games (April 21-May 6)…the Titans swept Long Beach State for the first time since May 13-15, 2011 in a Big West Conference series at Goodwin Field…the sweep in a non-conference series between the two clubs is the first since March 24-26, 2006 at Goodwin Field…Fullerton also swept the 49ers at Blair Field for the time since May 14-16, 2010…Wiest's nine strikeouts were a career high and matched the highest total for any Titan pitcher this season…Lorenzen's streak of 12 saves matches his career-long from last year, and his 24 career stops rank sixth all-time…Fullerton's six hits matched a season low.