College Baseball : Pitching Deserts Fullerton, 17-8 : Win Gives Santa Barbara Its First PCAA Championship

Cal State Fullerton’s pitching staff couldn’t have found a worst time to self-destruct.

In a do-or-die situation, the Titans were shelled for 15 hits in a 17-8 loss to UC Santa Barbara Friday night at Titan field.

The Gauchos had lost 17 consecutive games on Titan field before Friday.

UCSB won its first Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. baseball championship since 1972 thanks to the inability of the Titans’ relief pitchers to throw strikes. The Gauchos (16-3, 42-17) lead the PCAA in hitting, but the best thing they did in a game-winning eighth-inning rally was keep the bat on their shoulders.

With two out and Fullerton leading, 7-5, in the eighth, Titan relievers Dave Serrano and Dean Yamashida allowed a pair of bases-loaded walks and a wild pitch that opened the gate for a five-run inning that killed Fullerton’s last chance at a title.

Serrano came on to relieve Gil Villanueva, the Titans’ first reliever, who gave up three runs, three hits and four walks in 2 innings, but didn’t fare much better. After striking out the first batter he faced, Serrano gave up three straight walks, including two with the bases loaded. That tied the game at 7-all and brought in Yamashida, whose wild pitch brought a run home. Brian Bello then hit a hard bouncer that struck Titan first baseman Pat Garman in the head. That made it 10-7.

In the ninth, Yamashida gave up a walk, three consecutive singles and a three-run triple by Greg Vella and sealed the Titan’s fate.

Fullerton, which needed to sweep the Gauchos to have any chance at winning the PCAA crown, actually outhit UCSB, 17 to 15. When Andy Mota scored on a double steal in the sixth and Dann Howitt drove in John Eccles with an RBI single in the seventh, the Titans (12-7, 36-19) appeared to have the game under control through seven innings.

In other PCAA action:

Fresno State 11, UC Irvine 3--The Bulldogs hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning to overcome an early 3-0 Anteater lead in Fresno.

Shaun Gilbert followed a Jody Allen double with a home run over the center-field fence. Steve Bates broke the 3-3 tie with a solo home run.

UC Irvine took a 3-0 lead in the third when Gene Roumimper hit his seventh home run of the season with two men on. The hit extended his hitting streak to thirteen games. He was 2 for 4 in the game, has 24 hits in his last 51 at-bats and is hitting .432.

Mike Goff (10-5) had seven strikeouts in the complete-game victory. He gave up eight hits. Craig Brink (6-4) took the loss for UCI (8-11, 19-25-2). The victory wraps up fourth place for the Bulldogs (11-8, 28-26-1). The teams play today and Sunday in the concluding weekend of the season.

In NAIA District 3 playoffs action:

Southern California College 3, Azusa Pacific 1 (15 innings)--Ron Nelson hit a two-run home run, his 13 of the season, for the victory. Dean Harvey singled with two out before Harvey’s home run. Starting pitcher Jeff Treadway (3-4) pitched into the 14th for the Cougars (18-28). The Vanguards (35-14) started Mark Deusha and he was replaced by winning pitcher Brian Otten (8-6). The senior right-hander had six strikeouts and gave up four hits.

Southern California College 2, Westmont 1 (game called due to darkness in the top of the seventh)--The semifinal game continues today at 9:30 a.m. The Vanguards scored on solo home runs by Steve Overeem and Howard Wellema. The winner will play Point Loma after the conclusion of the suspended game.

In California Collegiate Athletic Assn. action:

UC Riverside 14, Chapman 13--The Panthers (12-18, 20-32) led 13-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, only to lose on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth in Riverside. UC Riverside scored two runs in the seventh and added seven in the eighth, including a grand slam by John Sarina. With the scored tied and the winning run on third, Ron Hubel (1-2) threw a wild pitch to lose. Hubel was 3 for 5 with two RBIs for Chapman.