FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton allowed just three base runners on Friday night but two of them came around to score and it proved to be the difference as the Titans dropped a 2-0 non-conference decision to Stanford at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (1-4) got excellent pitching from starter Thomas Eshelman, who flirted with a perfect game and allowed the Cardinal (2-3) just three hits on the night overall. But Stanford starter Cal Quantrill matched zeroes with the Titans right-hander for six innings.
Eshelman was masterful for six innings as he retired the first 18 Stanford batters he faced, recording seven strikeouts in the process.
But his perfect game was broken up to lead off the seventh inning as Tommy Edman poked a single to shallow left field for the first hit and base runner of the night for the Cardinal. Edman advanced to second after the ball got behind David Olmedo-Barrera in left field. Edman got to third thanks to a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a wild pitch to put the Cardinal ahead 1-0.
In the eighth inning, Stanford added to the lead when first baseman Matt Winaker deposited a 1-2 offering from Eshelman over the right field fence for a solo home run and a 2-0 Cardinal lead.
Eshelman allowed a single after that and then was pulled after going seven and 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out eight.
For Stanford, Quantrill went six innings and allowed three hits with four walks while striking out seven.
Dustin Vaught went 2-for-3 while A.J. Kennedy and Josh Vargas each went 1-for-4 to make up the Titans offense on the night.
The Titans had chances, putting the leadoff hitter on in three of the last four innings and they had at least one base runner on in all nine frames. But the Titans went 0-for-18 with runners on base and 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on the night.
The Titans and Cardinal will square off for the second game of the three-game series on Saturday night at Goodwin Field with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Junior Justin Garza will make his first appearance of 2015 and his first start at Goodwin Field since he tossed a no-hitter against CSUN on May 23.
Notes: Vaught recorded his third multi-hit game of the season and has a hit in three straight games… Jake Jefferies had two walks on Friday night and has now reached base safely in four straight games… Maxwell Gibbs came in to pitch in relief of Eshelman in the eighth inning and did not allow a hit in one and 2/3 innings, recording a strikeout.
