Titans Beat Chapman in Their Baseball Opener

Cal State Fullerton rallied for 3 runs in the seventh inning on its way to a 6-3 victory over Chapman in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday in front of about 250 at Titan Field.

It was the season opener for Fullerton, which finished third in the College World Series last season. Chapman is 1-2.

The Fullerton rally came at the expense of Chapman pitcher David Bird, a junior left-hander from Sonora High School. Bird appeared in control over the first 6 innings, allowing 2 runs and 6 hits.

He had thrown 106 pitches through 6 innings and Chapman Coach Mike Weathers said it was a gamble to let Bird continue in the seventh.

“It’s time to stretch him out,” Weathers said about Bird. “He pitched a good game for the first 6 innings but he got tired and went to the fastball too much in the seventh.”

Bird’s problems started with the first hitter. Rex Peters hit a home run to left to tie it, 3-3.

Rich Gonzales followed with a single to center and then Brent Mayne singled to left.

Fullerton’s Rod Klopfer then bunted back to Bird, who looked at third but decided to go to first--only to have disaster strike.

Chapman first baseman Mike Guiseffi, who had charged on the bunt, was about 5 feet from the bag when he caught the ball. Klopfer was credited with a single and Fullerton had the bases loaded.

Ralph Ramirez followed with a single, good for one run, and Fullerton led, 4-3.

Bird was replaced by Matt Patuano, who allowed a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Trevor Neighbors before retiring the side.

Fullerton got its final run in the eighth on a single by Peters, a throwing error and an RBI single by Brent Mayne.

Mayne, who hit .393 last season and Peters, who hit .330, were each 3 for 5 Tuesday.

Freshman shortstop Randy Graves had 3 hits and Klopfer and Mate Borgogno had 2 hits for Fullerton, which had 15.

The Titans did leave 11 runners left on base, though, including 7 by lead-off hitter Bobby Jones.

“I was happy with the way we swung the bat,” Fullerton Coach Larry Cochell said. “But we have to have a lot better production with men on base.”

Chapman had taken a 2-0 lead in the second. Jeff Kidwiler singled with 2 out and Tony Gardea followed with a home run, his first this season, over the left-field fence.

Fullerton got a run back in the fourth on a double by Klopfer, who went to third on a double play and scored on a balk.

Graves tripled in the fifth for Fullerton and scored on a wild pitch.

Chapman took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on a triple by Ken Briggs and a sacrifice fly by Rod Turner.

Chris Robinson, a sophomore right-hander from Troy High School, worked the final 3 innings allowing a hit and 2 walks for the victory.