Titans Top USC With Five Runs in Ninth

Cal State Fullerton, shut out on three hits through eight innings, finally came to life just in time Wednesday night against USC.

The fifth-ranked Titans rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, four of them after two were out, for a 5-4 victory over the Trojans at Dedeaux Field. It evened the season series between the teams at a victory apiece.

“That was a great win, coming against a team as good as USC,” Titan Coach George Horton said.

Fullerton (20-8) scored one run on two walks, a pinch-hit single by Matt Belfanti and Chris Stringfellow’s fielder’s choice grounder, but the other runs came across after David Bacani popped up.

Another walk to Steve Woodward loaded the bases, and freshman Jason Corapci drove in two runs with a single to right. The tying run scored when Jake Epstein singled up the middle, and Aaron Rifkin ripped a single to right, scoring Corapci with the winning run.

Titan closer Kirk Saarloos (5-2) picked up victory in 1 2/3 innings. Pete Montrenes (3-1), who took over after Mark Todd walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, took the loss for the Trojans (22-11).

Saarloos gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Bill Peavey in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch-runner Josh Self was caught stealing on a pitchout. Saarloos made quick work of the last two batters.

Horton said he was particularly pleased by the two-out efforts by Corapci, Epstein and Rifkin. Epstein came back from an 0-2 count, and Rifkin’s game-winning hit came after he had struck out twice.

“I was just really excited to be up in that situation,” Rifkin said. “They had made me look bad two straight times, and when I got two strikes the last time I knew I didn’t want to get beat again.”

Corapci fouled off three pitches with a 3-2 count before his key hit.

“When the count went full, I was just trying to put the ball in play,” Corapci said. “I thought the last two pitches were a little outside, but I didn’t want to take any chance on any borderline calls. Everyone on our team did a great job in the ninth.”

USC starter Ronald Flores held the Titans to two hits through the first five innings.

Ronnie Corona, the Titan starter, gave up three runs in the first two innings, two of them on home runs by Justin Gemoll and Alberto Concepcion in the second.

The Trojans had scored a run in the first after Corona hit Brian Barre, who stole second, advanced on an infield out and scored on Anthony Lunetta’s hit.

USC extended its lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Ron Garibaldi led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and infield out and scored on Eric Verbryke’s two-out infield hit.

George Carralejo took over for Corona with two outs in the sixth and held USC hitless for 1 2/3 innings before Saarloos replaced him in the eighth.

In nonconference baseball:

Vanguard 10, Chapman 5--The visiting Lions broke up a 5-5 tied with four seventh-inning runs. Right fielder James Dent homered and knocked in three for Vanguard (5-28). Center fielder Adam Olow had four hits and a stolen base for Chapman (18-5-1).

In nonconference softball;

Chapman 7-6, Vanguard 4-1--Lindsey Buendia pitched a three-hitter, striking out seven, and Katie Chauvin had two hits and two RBIs for host Chapman (24-6), as they completed the doubleheader sweep. In the first game, Leslie Prochaska and Molly Beckett had two RBIs each and Tiffany Hoskins pitched a complete game, striking out nine.