Titans Get a Complete Effort in 3-1 Victory

Freshman Darric Merrell pitched his first complete game of the season, striking out 11 as host Cal State Fullerton beat Pacific, 3-1, in a Big West Conference baseball game Saturday.

Merrell (3-2) scattered nine hits and lowered his earned-run average to 1.84. He was one out away from a shutout before the Tigers scored in the ninth.

The Titans (21-10, 2-0) held a 1-0 lead before scoring twice in the eighth on RBI singles by Geoff Comfort and Brett Kay. Kay was playing in his first game after missing the last 17 with a broken thumb.

Jason Walker (5-4) took the loss for Pacific (19-17, 0-2), giving up all three Cal State Fullerton runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Jason Corapci had three hits and an RBI and Robert Guzman had two hits for the Titans, who have won seven in a row and 13 of 15.

The teams conclude the three-game series today at 1 p.m.

In the Big West Challenge track and field meet:

Titans win--Cal State Fullerton took first place in nine of 18 events to win the men’s portion of the Big West Challenge at Fullerton.

Fullerton compiled 196 points, followed by second-place UC Santa Barbara with 164. Long Beach State was third with 160 and UC Irvine finished fourth with 115.

Fullerton had two double winners: sprinter Nicholas McCullom in the 100 (10.67) and 200 meters (21.25), and Brandon Campbell in the high jump (6-10 3/4) and long jump (23-0 3/4).

Other Titan winners included Richard Adams in the 400 hurdles (53.63), Joe Thomas in the triple jump (49-7) and Ryan Gill in the javelin with a throw of 203-8, 38 feet farther than his closest competitor.

In the women’s division, Fullerton finished third among four teams. Genia Daniels won the 100 meters (12.0), Carla Battle took first in the 200 (25.03) and Anna Doty won the triple jump (38-11 3/4) for the Titans, who also won the 400 relay (47.27).

In Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball:

UC Irvine 3, UC San Diego 0--Middle blocker Erick Helenihi had 18 kills and setter Todd Steinert had 38 assists for visiting UC Irvine, which won, 30-15, 30-26, 30-24.

The Anteaters are 11-12, 6-9.