Long Beach State Knocks the Titans Out of First Place

Cal State Fullerton is ranked No. 1 in college baseball, but the Titans suddenly find themselves in second place in the Big West Conference race.

Long Beach State (29-18) took over the conference lead with a 4-2 victory over the Titans Friday night at Blair Field.

Marcus Jones pitched a complete-game nine-hitter to help the 49ers win the opener of the three-game series and improve their Big West record to 12-4. Fullerton (38-7) fell to 11-5 in the Big West. The series continues tonight at 7:05.

It was the first time Fullerton has lost three consecutive conference games since Long Beach swept a series from the Titans in 1993.

“That was a lot of fun out there tonight,” said Jones, now 8-3.

Long Beach Coach Dave Snow said Jones’ ability to work his way out of bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning when he gave up only one run was the key to the game.

Titan Coach Augie Garrido agreed. “He’s a good pitcher, and that’s the way the game was,” Garrido said. “I think we were overanxious and trying too hard.”

Titan starter Brent Billingsley ran into control trouble in the sixth, walking two batters and hitting another. Long Beach scored twice in the inning, costing Billingsley his first loss of the season after 10 victories. He gave up only five hits in seven innings.

Friday night’s crowd of 2,285 was an all-time high for a game hosted by Long Beach State, topping the previous record of 1,826 for a game against Fullerton in 1994.

The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the first, but Garrido said it hurt when the Titans didn’t get more. Jones walked C.J. Ankrum and Mark Kotsay on nine pitches. Jones got Jeremy Giambi to ground out, but the runners advanced, and Ankrum scored on Brian Loyd’s high bouncer down the third base line. Neil Sauerheber fielded the ball over his left shoulder but the one-hop throw was late to first.

Jones gave up a double into the left field corner to Loyd opening the fourth, but Jones got out of the inning when Mike Lamb lined out to first, Tony Martinez struck out and Jones caught Loyd off second on a pickoff.

Billingsley was sailing along until the fifth. Casey Martin got Long Beach’s first hit of the game, a double into the right-field corner that opened the inning. Martin moved to third when Jason Hodges grounded out. Billingsley walked Casey Snow on five pitches and Sauerheber lined a single into right off the tip off Lamb’s glove at second, scoring Martin for a 1-1 tie.

Fullerton regained the lead with a run in a strange sixth inning. Kotsay led off the inning with a hit, and bunts by Jeremy Giambi and Loyd went for hits, loading the bases with none out. But Lamb popped out to short right and Martinez stuck out. Jack Jones drove in Kotsay on a weak bouncer down the third base line that went for a hit, but the 49er pitcher escaped without further damage.