May 18, 2012
Fullerton, Calif. - Dylan Floro pitched eight strong innings and Michael Lorenzen got the final three outs for his 16th save Friday night as No. 8-ranked Cal State Fullerton (33-16, 15-4) won the opener of a 3-game Big West Conference series over UC Riverside, 3-2.
Floro (9-3), who leads the Big West in victories, faced the minimum 21 UCR (19-28, 7-12) batters from the second through eighth innings. A bloop double by Eddie Young and an infield hit by pinch-hitter Phil Holinsworth to begin the ninth brought on Lorenzen. He got Vince Gonzalez to hit into a double play that scored Young. He walked Clayton Prestridge but got David Andriese on a fly ball to center.
Floro allowed 6 hits and hit one while striking out five without a walk. Lorenzen tied Nick Ramirez (2011) for the second-most saves in a Fullerton season. Eddie Orozco (5-6) went all the way for UCR.
Richy Pedroza's hit-and-run single keyed a 2-run fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. It moved Jared Deacon to third and when right fielder Andriese misplayed the ball, Deacon scored and Pedroza ended up on third. He scored an unearned run on Greg Velasquez's ground ball to short.
The Highlanders scored first on consecutive two-out singles in the first by Gonzalez, Prestridge and Andriese. The only subsequent UCR runners prior to the ninth were erased on a double play and a batter's interference on a stolen base attempt.
Fullerton tied the game in the fourth. Lorenzen and Anthony Hutting walked. Matt Chapman sacrificed and Lorenzen scored as Clay Williamson grounded to second.
Fullerton had a couple of chances to pad its lead. Pedroza was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a near wild pitch to end the seventh and Hutting hit into a double play with two on to end the eighth.
The series continues with 6 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday.