Feb. 28, 2009
Complete Release and Box Score in PDF Format
FULLERTON, Calif. - No. 7/17 Cal State Fullerton (4-2) scored three runs in the first inning and, behind the pitching of right-hander Kyle Witten, made that stand in a 3-2 victory over visiting No. 14/7 Stanford (2-4) tonight at Goodwin Field. With the loss, Stanford has now dropped three straight since opening the season 2-1.
The host Titans took advantage of some first-inning wildness from Stanford freshman left-hander Brett Mooneyham (0-1), who was making his first collegiate start. Mooneyham walked three batters in the frame - including one to Khris Davis that forced in a run - and Fullerton got an RBI-single from Joey Siddons and a sacrifice fly from Tony Harkey.
After the rough opening inning, Mooneyham settled down nicely and blanked Fullerton on two hits over the next four frames. Fellow freshman southpaw Scott Snodgress entered in the sixth and worked 2.1-scoreless innings of his own, giving a chance for the Cardinal offense to come alive.
Witten (1-0) held Stanford to just two singles over the first seven innings, as the Cardinal scoreless streak reached 14 full innings. With two outs in the eighth, however, Stanford staged a rally. Ben Clowe singled for the Card's first hit since the fourth, and Kellen Kiilsgaard followed by hammering a double off the right field wall. The Titans then brought in right-hander Kyle Mertins to face Zach Jones, who promptly greeted the reliever with a two-run single that brought Stanford within a run at 3-2.
Stanford reliever Carey Schwartz did an outstanding job in the bottom of the eighth, inheriting a two-on, one out jam and leaving both runners stranded. Joey August ended the frame with a diving catch in left-center field, giving the Cardinal a chance in the ninth. However, Fullerton closer Michael Morrison struck out two in a perfect ninth, securing his second save and the series victory for the Titans.
The Cardinal will try to salvage the final game tomorrow in the series finale, sending right-hander Max Fearnow (0-0, 6.75) to the mound against Fullerton right-hander Tyler Pill (0-0, 10.80). First pitch from Goodwin Field is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.