With Game in Hand, Saarloos Leaves Work Early

Pitcher Kirk Saarloos’ streak of 41 scoreless innings at home ended Sunday, but Cal State Fullerton had more than enough offense to provide Saarloos with his 11th consecutive victory.

The Titans hammered UC Riverside, 15-2, to sweep the three-game nonconference series in front of 2,123 at Goodwin Field. Fullerton had 18 hits, including consecutive home runs by Chris Stringfellow and Matt Belfanti in the fifth inning.

It was the 19th victory in 20 games for Fullerton (33-11). The eighth-ranked Titans have won 25 of their last 28 games and 10 consecutive series, sweeping five of them.

“It’s been fun, and hopefully we can keep it going,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “We can talk about having a good April, but May and June are what it’s all about in college baseball.”

Saarloos (11-2) went to the sidelines after six innings and 92 pitches. He gave up two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out 11, tying his career high.

“The plan was for me to come out after about six innings if we had a good lead,” Saarloos said. “I could have kept pitching if they needed me, but the offense did a great job, and so did our bullpen.”

Riverside scored its two runs in the fourth. Saarloos gave up a hit to Adam Spiker and walked two batters, loading the bases. A single by Scott Powis drove in both runs before Saarloos struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Before Sunday, Saarloos had not given up a run at home since Stanford scored three against him on Feb. 4. He has given up only 18 hits in 51 innings and has a 0.88 earned-run average at home this season. “I love pitching at home in front of this crowd,” Saarloos said.

The Titans staked Saarloos to a 3-0 lead in the third. Belfanti led off the inning with a double and scored on Shawn Norris’ double over first base. Norris, who was three for four, scored on an infield out by David Bacani. Fullerton added another run on a delayed double steal after Robert Guzman singled and Jason Corapci reached on a fielder’s choice.

After Riverside scored in the fourth, Fullerton came back for four runs in the bottom of the inning. A hit by Mike Rouse and a sacrifice fly by Belfanti produced one run. Bacani drove in another, before doubles by Guzman and Corapci produced two more runs.

The two home runs highlighted Fullerton’s three-run fifth and extended the Titan lead to 10-2. Stringfellow drove in two runs with his homer, then brought in two more with a triple in Fullerton’s four-run sixth.

Stringfellow, who is batting a team-leading .376, has hit all four of his homers in April.

“He’s definitely been showing more power,” Horton said. “When he stays behind the ball, he’s as good a hitter as anyone we have. He used to get a lot of topspin on the ball, but we’ve worked to get more backspin, which lifts up the ball.”

Stringfellow said he has worked on his concentration at the plate.

“Guys are starting to throw me inside more, but I’ve been looking for it,” Stringfellow said. “I’ve also brought my hands up more in my approach, and it’s helped me get the ball up.”

After Saarloos departed, Wes Littleton, Sean Martin and Mike Nunez each worked one scoreless inning.

The Titans play five games this week beginning with a nonconference game at home on Tuesday against Pepperdine, which defeated Fullerton, 5-2, in the season opener. Fullerton also hosts Biola Wednesday before going to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a three-game Big West Conference series beginning Friday.