Fullerton Accepts Gauchos’ Gifts

Jon Smith and Kirk Saarloos combined on a four-hitter and Cal State Fullerton took advantage of three UC Santa Barbara errors to score three unearned runs and defeat the Gauchos, 4-1, in Big West Conference baseball Saturday at Fullerton.

Smith (7-2) gave up three hits, walked six and struck out six in seven innings. Saarloos pitched the final two innings for his fourth save, giving up one hit and striking out four.

Cal State Fullerton (27-14, 15-5), which has a five-game winning streak, took a 2-0 lead in the second. Chris Beck scored from third with two out when Gaucho shortstop Jeff Bannon made a wild throw to first on Shawn Norris’ ground ball. Chris Stringfellow singled to send Norris to third, and Norris then scored on a double steal with Stringfellow.

UC Santa Barbara (21-21, 11-9), scored a run in the third on Chad Peshke’s bases-loaded fielder’s choice ground ball.

The Titans got another unearned run in the bottom of the inning when Bannon made another error.

In the seventh, an error by right fielder Andy Campanella gave Jason Corapci an extra base on his single and he scored after an infield hit by Matt Belfanti and Beck’s infield grounder.

The teams finish the series at 1 p.m. today.

In Golden State Athletic Conference baseball:

Concordia 5-4, Westmont 4-2--Derek Patterson’s 14th home run of the season broke a 2-2 tie in the second game as host Concordia swept the doubleheader. Matt Broesamle (7-5) was the winner in the first game, striking out 10 and giving up three earned runs in 8 2/3 innings. Jimmy Pickel got the final out to pick up a save. Concordia’s sweep assured the Eagles a spot in the NAIA Region 2 sectional playoffs for the third year in a row.

Vanguard 7-11, Azusa Pacific 3-16--Vanguard’s first four batters, Matt Tisthammer, James Dent, Kevin Candelaria and Samuel Baeder each had three hits and accounted for all of the Lions’ runs in their first-game victory.

In the second game, Azusa Pacific opened with a five-run first inning and Vanguard (9-36, 4-24) responded with seven runs in the second. Azusa Pacific (27-17, 18-10) scored 11 runs in the next four innings.

In nonconference baseball:

Chapman 22-1, UC San Diego 1-6--Eric Albright hit two home runs and had six RBIs and Scott Montgomery had a home run, double, single and also drove in six runs for host Chapman (24-9-1) in the first game of the doubleheader. The Panthers scored seven in the second inning and 11 times in the seventh.

In the second game, UCSD (18-12) held the Panthers to one unearned run and four hits.

Miami 12, Long Beach State 2--Pitcher Matt Paz lasted only three innings, giving up nine hits, three walks and seven earned runs for visiting Long Beach State (25-19), which lost its sixth straight game.

Chuck Lopez and Abel Orozco each had two hits for the 49ers.

In Golden State Athletic Conference softball:

Azusa Pacific 8-1, Vanguard 0-2--Cheri Smith gave up five hits and one unearned run in seven innings and host Vanguard (25-30, 10-14) scored two unearned runs in the sixth to gain a split.

In the first game, Vanguard was held to one hit by Azusa Pacific pitcher Jodi Miller in a five-inning shutout.

In nonconference softball:

Chapman 3-4, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 0-0--Tiffany Hoskins pitched a six-hit shutout with nine strikeouts to give host Chapman (29-7) the sweep.

Heather Peters hit a two-run home run and Leslie Prochaska had two doubles and an RBI for the Panthers.