May 20, 2006
Box Score
Fullerton, Calif. -
Brett Pill's solo home run broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning and he
scored an insurance run in the eighth Saturday night to lead Cal State
Fullerton to a 3-1 Big West Conference victory over Cal Poly SLO.
Lauren Gagnier went 6.1 innings to improve his record to 11-4 as he and
three relievers stranded 12 Mustang runners. No. 2-ranked Fullerton
improved to 38-13 overall and 14-3 in the Big West Conference. Cal
Poly fell to 27-25 and 8-9. Gary Daley went the distance for the
Mustangs and struck out nine with no walks but fell to 6-8.
Cal Poly left the bases loaded three times in the game. They loaded
them up with no outs in the second but Gagnier got three outs. In the
sixth, they loaded them with two outs but Gilbert Gil struck out. In
the seventh, reliever John Estes intentionally walked Jimmy Van
Ostrandt to load the bases with two out before getting pinch hitter
Adam Buschini to ground out to third.
Adam Jorgenson pitched a scoreless eighth and got two outs in the ninth
before Josh Lansford doubled. Ryan Paul, forced into a closer's role
by an injury to All-American candidate Vinnie Pestano, got Bryan Kepner
to ground to third for the final out and his second save in as many
nights.
Fullerton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Brandon Tripp
tripled and came home when second baseman Gil's relay bounced away from
third for an error. The Mustangs tied it in the fourth when Van
Ostrandt was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a balk and scored on a
single up the middle by Corey Barthel.
Pill hit his fifth home run of the year over the left field wall with
one out in the sixth. After the Titans failed to get Tripp home from
third with only one out in the seventh, Pill singled with two out in
the eighth, stole second and came home on a single to left by Danny
Dorn.
Fullerton retains its 3-game lead in the Big West over Long Beach State
with four games to play. The 49ers won in extra inning earlier in the
day at UC Riverside.
Cal Poly and Fullerton conclude their series Sunday at 1 p.m. in the
Titans' regular season home finale.
