Titan Offense Goes Silent at Right Time for 49ers

Long Beach State, struggling to stay in contention for an at-large bid in the NCAA baseball playoffs, got a big boost from pitcher Jeff Leuenberger Friday night.

Leuenberger handcuffed third-ranked Cal State Fullerton on five hits and led the 49ers to a 4-0 victory in the opening game of a three-game Big West Conference series in front of 1,575 at Titan Field.

It was the fewest hits for the Titans this season and the first time Fullerton has been shut out.

The Titans (43-10, 24-4), who clinched the conference championship and the Big West’s automatic NCAA berth last week, suffered only their second loss in their last 15 games. Long Beach improved to 31-20 and 18-10 in the conference, moving to within a game of second-place Nevada.

“We got a big performance from Leuenberger,” Long Beach Coach Dave Snow said. “That’s as well as he’s pitched.”

Leuenberger, a sophomore right-hander from Canyon High, also was pleased. “It’s always a big game when we play these guys,” he said. “But I wanted to take it as just another game. It felt great.”

Leuenberger (4-2) walked three batters and struck out a career-high 10 in the eight innings he pitched. It was his third start of the season. Leuenberger had given up only one earned over 19 innings in his previous four outings and earned a spot in the starting rotation when he shut out New Mexico State for six innings April 30.

Titan starter Adam Johnson (9-3) gave up eight hits, four walks and all four runs in seven innings, losing to Long Beach for the second time this season. He struck out 11.

“He wasn’t as sharp as he normally is, but we usually win games when we give up only four runs,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “Leuenberger was outstanding. He took one pitch--his fastball--and dominated us. We weren’t even putting the ball in play.”

Long Beach staked Leuenberger to a two-run lead in the third, helped by Johnson’s early control problems.

Leadoff batter Scott Redfox reached on an error when third baseman Ryan Owens fumbled a short-hop grounder. A one-out base hit by Chris Wright and walk loaded the bases, and Johnson hit Jaeme Leal to force in the first run.

Greg Dobbs’ hit drove in the second run, but Spencer Oborn threw out Terrmel Sledge at the plate when he tried to score from second. Johnson gave up another walk to load the bases, but got out of the inning by striking out Mike Hota.

The 49ers added two more in the fifth when Sledge singled and Leal, who had been hit twice earlier by Johnson pitches, blasted a home run to left. It was his 20th homer of the season.

The Titans threatened in the sixth, but failed to score. With one out, Leuenberger walked Bacani and gave up his second hit of the game, a single to center by Reed Johnson.

Horton had to go to the bench to replace leading hitter Chris Beck, injured when he was hit on the right elbow by a pitch in the fourth, and Sean Bischofberger popped out with the bases loaded. The inning ended when Aaron Rifkin grounded out.

Beck said he didn’t think the injury was serious. “I’ve been hit there before,” he said.