June 3, 2012

Box Score / Photo Gallery

Eugene, OR - Junior righthander Casey Delgado threw a 3-hit shutout Sunday to give Austin Peay a 3-0 victory and eliminate Cal State Fullerton from the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament at Oregon.

The Titans finish the year 36-21 after suffering their fourth shutout loss of the season. The Governors (40-23) advanced to play host Oregon but lost, 8-1, as the Ducks advanced to the Super Regionals.

Surprise starter J. D. Davis shut out Austin Peay for 6 innings but the Governors pushed across three runs in the eighth off a trio of Titan relievers.

After stranding runners at second and third in a scoreless seventh, loser Willie Kuhl (2-4) walked Jon Clinard on four pitches to open the eighth inning. Jose Cardona relieved and surrendered a hit-and-run single to center by Jordan Hankins. A wild pitch broke the scoreless tie. Rolando Gautier's 2-out single made it 2-0 and brought on DiMitri De La Fuente who got Tyler Childress to pop up in the middle of the infield. Five Titans converged including third baseman Matt Chapman, who fell down going over the mound and the ball dropped for an RBI single and a 3-0 lead.

Delgado (9-4) walked three (one intentionally) and struck out four in his second complete game of the year.

Fullerton got runners in scoring position only twice. Richy Pedroza doubled for the first Titan hit to lead off the fourth. He was sacrificed to second by Ivory Thomas but thrown out at the plate trying to score on Carlos Lopez' grounder to second.

In the sixth, Thomas was hit by a pitch with two out. He stole second and Lopez was walked intentionally. They pulled a double steal but Davis was called out on a questionable checked swing for strike three.

Davis hadn't pitched since March 18 but allowed only 5 singles and one hit batter in his longest collegiate appearance. He had started four times all season and worked a total of 17 innings. The Titans were fearful of a rain interruption and also a chance to save lefthander Kenny Mathews for one or two more potential games.

Senior Anthony Trajano, who went 3-for-8 (.375) with four runs scored in the Regional, was named to the all-tournament team at shortstop.

Fullerton's 36 wins are its fewest since 1993. It is denied a trip to the College World Series in Omaha for the third consecutive year, matching the longest drought in the program's 38-year Div. I history.