Fullerton Has Grand Time in Defeating Loyola, 12-4

Cal State Fullerton left fielder Tony Banks was standing on the field trying to describe the fourth-inning pitch he hit out of George C. Page Stadium Wednesday.

“It was kind of a heater,” Banks said. “But (Loyola Marymount pitcher Shawn Hammett) took a little off trying to get me out in front.”

Banks, a left-handed batter, was out in front, knocking the ball well over the 370-foot sign in right field for a grand slam. The four runs gave the Titans (4-3) a 9-3 lead en route to a 12-4 victory over the Lions (3-6). The Titans totaled 18 hits.

Titan right-hander Mike Parisi (1-0) pitched a complete game to earn the victory. He struck out seven, gave up 11 hits and one walk.

Hammett (1-2) started but lasted only 3 1/3 innings. He gave up 10 hits, nine runs (eight earned) and one walk.

“He didn’t have very good command today,” Loyola Coach Jody Robinson said. “He was behind on a number of counts. He hadn’t thrown in a while--I hope that’s it.”

Lion catcher Andy Biaggi was surprised that Hammett struggled.

“Usually he gets his slider down and away,” Biaggi said. “But he was hanging everything today.”

Hammett was replaced in the fourth by lefty Shane Bowers, who gave up four hits in pitching 3 2/3 shutout innings. Left-hander Ryan Graves took over in the seventh and picked a Titan runner off first base to get out of the inning.

In the eighth, the Titans scored three runs, two coming on an error by Lion left fielder Darren Sugiyama, who missed a shoestring catch. Loyola managed to load the bases in the ninth but scored only one run.

“We hit the ball hard, but we just didn’t capitalize,” said Loyola right fielder Mike Seal, who went three for four including a first-inning home run, his first of the season.