Johnson Strikes Out 17 as Titans Defeat Pacific

Junior Adam Johnson struck out 17, one short of the school record, as Cal State Fullerton defeated Pacific, 9-2, Friday in Stockton. The victory moved the Titans two games ahead of both Long Beach State and Nevada in the Big West Conference.

Pacific took a 2-1 lead on Richard Hackett’s two-run single in the bottom of the second inning, but the Titans had six hits in the top of the third and scored three runs to take the lead for good.

Jeff Gates had three hits and Aaron Rifkin, Steve Woodward, Shawn Norris and Chris Stringfellow had two each for the Titans (32-17, 18-7), who had 15 hits overall. Rifkin had a double, two runs and two RBIs.

Johnson, who went eight innings, struck out at least two batters in every inning and finished the eighth by striking out the side. His 17 strikeouts were one short of the record set by Eddie Delzer in 1984 against La Verne. Johnson (7-2) gave up six hits and two earned runs, walked two and hit a batter. Mike Nunez relieved Johnson and pitched a perfect ninth inning.

In another Big West game:

Nevada 11, Long Beach State 2--Nevada had seven extra-base hits and 16 overall in the victory, which moved the Wolf Pack into a second-place tie with Long Beach. Jon Inglett scored three times and drove in two runs and Don Price had three hits and three RBIs for Nevada (32-17, 16-9).

Bobby Crosby’s solo home run produced the only RBI for Long Beach (29-22, 16-9).

In the NCAA Division III West Region softball championships:

Chapman 8, La Verne 0 (5, mercy)--Chapman sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning and scored six runs. Chrissy Lake had two hits and three RBIs and Heather Peters had two hits, including a triple, and two RBIs for the Panthers, who face Pacific Lutheran today at noon. Tiffany Hoskins (16-3) got the victory for Chapman (33-8), allowing seven hits.