Passed Ball in Seventh Does In Titans

One sloppy defensive play by Cal State Fullerton and two outstanding plays by USC led the Trojans to a 5-4 victory over the Titans in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday night at USC.

A passed ball charged to Matt Hattabaugh allowed USC to take the lead in the seventh inning after the Titans had tied the score, 4-4, in the fifth inning.

USC’s Bret Boone pinch-hit for Billy Morris to lead off the seventh and doubled when his hit caromed off the third-base bag. Boone took third on a groundout and scored on the passed ball to give USC the lead for good.

Fullerton (25-17) had the potential tying run on second base in the ninth inning. the Titans’ Kevin Farlow, who transferred from USC this season, lined the ball down the left-field line to lead off the inning, but Murph Proctor made a diving catch.

Phil Nevin followed with a single. Mate Borgogno then hit what appeared to be a double-play ball toward short, but the ball hit the mound and deflected behind shortstop Boone. But Boone reached back and made a strong throw to catch Borgogno at first.

With two outs, Nevin was at second and Rich Gonzales came up to bat. But Jeff Cirillo got Gonzales to ground out to second to end the game.

The Titans now are 2-8 in one-run games, including a 6-5 loss to USC April 10.

In the fifth inning, Farlow led off with a single and Nevin homered to left, his 13th of the season and third in the past two games.

Fullerton scored first. Frank Charles led off the second inning with a single, went to second on a sacrifice, and scored on Matt Hattabaugh’s single to left. The Titans then loaded the bases, but stranded all three runners.

USC’s Mark Smith led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Brett Jenkins then hit his second home run, 400 feet to center field. But Fullerton starter Rich Faulks retired three consecutive batters to get out of the jam.

USC (32-16) added two runs in the third on Cirillo’s two-run home run to take a 4-1 lead.