New Mexico State Ends Titans’ Streak

Cal State Fullerton, the top-ranked baseball team in the nation, had its 16-game winning streak snapped with a 6-5 loss to New Mexico State in a Big West Conference game Thursday at Las Cruces.

The Titans trailed, 6-0, after five innings and didn’t break through until they scored two runs in the eighth.

Fullerton (31-3, 6-1 in conference) scored three more runs in the ninth to cut their deficit to one, but with two outs and the bases loaded, New Mexico State reliever Bryan Kozlowski got C.J. Ankrum to ground into a fielder’s choice to shortstop to end the game.

New Mexico State (18-18, 2-5) jumped on Fullerton starter Kirk Irvine early, scoring single runs in the first, second and third innings.

The Aggies knocked Irvine out in the fifth when Andre Champagne, who had three RBIs, hit a two-run single to cap a three-run inning and push New Mexico State in front, 6-0.

Irvine (9-2) gave up five earned runs on seven hits and five walks and struck out two in 4 2/3 innings.

New Mexico State’s Jeremy Stewart pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings before giving up a home run to Fullerton’s Jack Jones in the eighth. Consecutive doubles by Titans Mark Kotsay and Jeremy Giambi chased Stewart and closed the gap to 6-2, but Ankrum flied out to end the threat.

With one out in the ninth, Fullerton closed to within 6-3, when Jones walked with the bases loaded. Scott Seal hit into a fielder’s choice to score another run, then New Mexico State walked Kotsay to load the bases again.

Kozlowski walked Giambi to force in another run, making it 6-5 before he retired Ankrum.

Kotsay went two for four with a run scored, Mike Lamb had two hits, and Jones and Giambi each had two RBIs for Fullerton.

Fullerton plays New Mexico State today in the second game of the three-game series.

In another Big West Conference game:

Nevada Las Vegas 2, Long Beach State 1--Las Vegas held off the 49ers and denied Long Beach State first place in the Big West Conference. Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton are tied at 6-1.

In nonconference baseball:

Concordia 15, Occidental 2--Derrick Bly had a double, triple, home run and three RBIs for Concordia (13-18-1).

In nonconference softball:

CS Dominguez Hills 9-2, Concordia 1-1--Stephanie Ourique hit an RBI double in the the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a doubleheader sweep by Cal State Dominguez Hills (20-10). Freshman Andrea Paz improved her record to 5-0 for Dominguez Hills.

Jennifer Yokoyama and Tami Quist each hit two-run triples in the first inning of the first game for the Toros.

In nonconference men’s tennis:

Southern California College 7, Dominican 0--David Robbins led Southern California College in its sweep, beating Rich Carson, 6-2, 6-3, in No. 1 singles. Robbins and Ryan Lewis won at No. 1 doubles, defeating Scott Leese and Jeff Carter, 8-6.