FULLERTON, Calif. – No. 10 Cal State Fullerton evened its series with Texas A&M on Saturday, shutting out the Aggies in a 2-0 victory at Goodwin Field.
Michael Lorenzen recorded his fourth save of the year, shutting the door on Texas A&M (10-6) in the ninth, after Koby Gauna did the set up work in the eighth.
Fullerton (12-3) starter Justin Garza improved to 4-0 after tossing seven shutout innings and holding the Aggies to just five hits while issuing only one walk and striking out six.
In his first defeat of the year, Texas A&M starter Daniel Mengden (3-1) was the tough luck loser, allowing just two runs – one earned – on five hits and no walks while striking out six. Only one of the five hits Mengden surrendered exited the infield.
The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth as Lorenzen recorded Fullerton's second base hit. The base knock stayed in the infield after taking a hop and deflecting off Mengden. Lorenzen stole second and moved to third on catcher Mitchell Nau's throwing error. Fullerton pushed the run across as J.D. Davis' sac fly to deep right field allowed Lorenzen to score.
In the sixth, Austin Diemer led off with an infield single, followed by back-to-back well-executed bunt singles that loaded the bases with Richy Pedroza and Carlsos Lopez on second and first, respectively. On a 2-2 offering to Matt Chapman, Mengden drilled Chapman in the shoulder, forcing the Titans' second run across as Fullerton took a 2-0 lead.
With the bases loaded and no outs, somehow Mengden escaped further damage in the sixth by striking out Anthony Hutting and Chad Wallach before coaxing a fly ball to centerfield from Lorenzen on a full count offering.
The Aggies threatened in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third and only one out on the scoreboard, but Garza retired Mengden and Jonathan Moroney with an infield pop up and fly ball, respectively, to effectively escape the jam.
Texas A&M outhit Fullerton 7-6, but left eight runners stranded.
Mikey Reynolds led Texas A&M with a 3-for-4 effort and two stolen bases.
Diemer led the Titans with a 2-for-3 evening, including a double.
The series finale and rubber game is set for an 11:30 a.m. first pitch from Goodwin Field on Sunday.
Notes: Cal State Fullerton shut out its third opponent of the season...Lorenzen extended his save streak to eight, dating back to 2012.
