Cal State Fullerton Tough Until Ninth, Then Falters

A ground ball turned into disaster for Cal State Fullerton Friday night at Titan Field.

With the score tied, 3-3, with two out in the top of the ninth inning, Titan third baseman Shawn Norris threw wildly to first on what appeared to be a routine play, and Long Beach State turned the error into gold.

The 49ers scored four unearned runs on a two-run double by Bobby Crosby and a two-run homer by Chuck Lopez for a 7-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series for first place in the Big West Conference.

The victory gave the 49ers (24-12, 12-4) a half-game lead over the Titans (21-12, 10-3). It was the Titans’ fourth loss in five games.

Titan starter Adam Johnson struck out 12 in seven innings, but the 49ers got seven hits and three earned runs off him. Titan closer Kirk Saarloos (6-4) took the loss after relieving Johnson with none out in the eighth.

“[Johnson] was so good,” Long Beach Coach Dave Snow said. “He had us handcuffed, but we were able to keep it together, and had something left for the end.”

Kasey Olenberger (4-2) was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Jeff Leuenberger, holding the Titans hitless in 1 2/3 innings. Josh Alliston pitched the ninth for Long Beach, giving up two hits and one run.

Crosby was four for four and scored three runs. It was his third four-hit game this season.

“Crosby had a great game,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “He was the wrong guy to come up [against] us after that error. We thought about walking him, but with Lopez coming up, what are you going to do?”

The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jason Corapci drilled a home run over the left-field fence against Leuenberger, his former teammate at Canyon High. It was the first homer given up by Leuenberger this season.

Long Beach picked up a run in the third to tie the score. Crosby tripled to the wall in right-center to lead off the inning. Johnson retired the next two batters, but catcher Bryan Kennedy singled up the middle, scoring Crosby.

The 49ers got another leadoff extra-base hit in the fourth when Jeff Jones doubled, but Johnson got two consecutive strikeouts and A.J. LaBarbera flied out to center.

Fullerton regained the lead in the fifth. Matt Belfanti doubled to the wall in center to lead off the inning and advanced on Mike Martinez’ sacrifice. Belfanti scored on Leuenberger’s wild pitch when Craig Patterson squared to bunt.

The Titans added a run in the seventh for a 3-1 lead, but missed a good chance for more.

Martinez doubled with one out, took third when Patterson singled off third baseman Kevin Randel’s glove and scored on David Bacani’s hit to left. Leuenberger walked Norris to load the bases. Olenberger came on in relief to strike out Corapci, and Jake Epstein grounded out to end the inning.

The second game of the series at 7 tonight will match the Titans’ Jon Smith (5-2, 3.04 ERA) against Matt Paz (7-1, 2.28).