For Starters, Titans Have a Pitching Edge

Long Beach State baseball Coach Dave Snow has been impressed from the start of the season with Cal State Fullerton’s pitching.

But he has been even more impressed lately.

“I knew their starters were good, but several of their other guys, especially the freshmen, have really stepped up,” Snow said. “I really like their depth now.”

That pitching depth will get a big test, however, when Fullerton (18-7) and Long Beach (14-8) meet in a three-game Big West Conference series beginning at 7 tonight at Titan Field. The teams, traditionally among the nation’s best, each are unbeaten in six conference games.

Fullerton will be missing freshman Jon Smith, one of its starters, because of tenderness in his pitching arm. Smith (2-0, 4.03 earned-run average) will be replaced in the weekend rotation by freshman Kirk Saarloos (2-2, 4.95).

“It weakens us somewhat because Smith would be our first choice,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “But we still think our second choice is good and will give us a chance to win the game he pitches.”

Whether Saarloos will start Saturday or Sunday probably will be determined by the result of tonight’s opener, in which Erasmo Ramirez (3-3, 3.19 ERA) is the scheduled Titan starter. Pitching coach Dave Serrano said the rotation involving Saarloos and Benny Flores (5-0, 1.75), normally the Sunday starter, likely will depend on how much bullpen help is needed Friday.

“We know Saarloos isn’t ready to go nine innings, so he’s going to need some help,” Horton said.

For that help, the Titans can call on freshman Adam Johnson (1-0, 1.08), who has been sensational in relief with 32 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings, along with freshman Jason Stewart (2-0, 2.08). Long Beach is scheduled to start sophomore left-hander Daryl Grant (3-1, 2.62) tonight, junior right-hander Caleb Balbuena (1-1, 4.78) Saturday and freshman right-hander Jeff Leuenberger (2-0, 3.08) Sunday. Leuenberger was one of Orange County’s top high school pitchers at Canyon last season.

The 49ers have won 12 consecutive games after a slow start. They won only two of their first 10, but their hitting turned around, and they scored 59 runs in their next four games. Long Beach is batting .353 compared to .301 for the Titans.

Long Beach has three players batting .440 or better. Junior first baseman Jason Yount is hitting .485, and outfielder Paul Day (Saddleback College) is at .459 with a team-leading five home runs. Outfielder Chuck Lopez is batting .440. Freshman catcher Bryan Kennedy leads the 49ers in runs batted in with 29.

Fullerton, ranked 10th nationally in one poll and 14th in another, also has improved offensively in the last three weeks, winning 12 of its last 14 games. The Titans had won eight in a row before losing, 8-6, Wednesday at Cal State Northridge.

“Both teams have been playing well, which should make it an exciting series,” Horton said. “I think both teams probably will be better when we play again later in the year at Long Beach, and even better in the tournament. But this will be a good test for both of us.”