FULLERTON, Calif. – In just his third career start, rookie right-hander Robby Nesovic led UC Santa Barbara to a 2-0 shutout over No. 4 Cal State Fullerton on Sunday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
With the loss Fullerton's (31-5, 8-1 Big West) 10-game win streak was snapped, while UC Santa Barbara improves to 18-16 overall and 4-5 in league play.
Nesovic (1-1) tossed six and 2/3 innings of shutout baseball in the win, holding the Titans to a season-low four hits.
Left-hander Greg Mahle earned his second save of the year and completed the Gauchos' shutout, holding Fullerton scoreless for two and 1/3 innings despite walking three batters. He did not allow a hit, and struck out two.
Fullerton stranded 11 runners on base, including three in the fifth inning, when with the bases loaded, Carlos Lopez fell just of a few feet short of a grand slam as he was retired when UCSB center fielder Cameron Newell tracked the ball down on the warning track.
Fullerton starter Grahamm Wiest (6-2) was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six in seven of innings of work.
Tyler Peitzmeier pitched two perfect innings to close the game for Fullerton.
UC Santa Barbara took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as what was initially ruled a two-run homer for Tyler Kuresa, was reversed and called a double. With runners on second and third, Luke Swenson's RBI groundout scored Nesovic for the first run of the game. Nesovic had struck out to lead off the inning, but reached safely on Weist's wild pitch.
In the fifth, Wiest drilled Kuresa to start the inning and he moved to second on Swenson's single up the middle. Jackson Morrow executed the sacrifice bunt, and actually loaded the bases as Wiest's throw pulled Lopez off the bag at first. With the bases loaded, Joey Epperson grounded into a double play, allowing Kuresa to score safely from third.
J.D. Davis led the Titans with a 2-for-2 effort.
The Titans play their next seven games on the road and return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Pepperdine for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
Notes: Fullerton's third 10-game win streak in 2013 was snapped...the Titans were shut out for the first time this season and held to a season-low four hits…Fullerton was last shut out in a 3-0 loss to Austin Peay at the Eugene Regional on June 3, 2012…the Titans were shut out for the first time at Goodwin Field since a 1-0 loss to UC Riverside on May 20, 2012…Michael Lorenzen's reached-base streak was snapped at 24 games…UC Santa Barbara defeated Fullerton at Goodwin Field for the first time since May 6, 2007…Fullerton won its eighth series of the year.