Dozen Runs More Than Enough for Saarloos

Cal State Fullerton scored a season-high 12 runs Sunday against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but with Kirk Saarloos on the mound, it was clearly a case of overkill by the Titans.

Saarloos pitched his third shutout and fourth complete game of the season, holding the Mustangs to five hits in the 12-0 nonconference victory at Goodwin Field. It was Fullerton’s fifth victory in its last six games.

Saarloos (5-2) struck out nine and didn’t give up a walk as Fullerton (13-9) won the series, two games to one. Cal Poly fell to 17-7.

Saarloos’ earned-run average dropped to 1.09, and opponents are batting only .149 against him.

“Kirk is going as good right now as anyone we’ve ever had,” Titan Coach George Horton. “It’s fun to show up at the ballpark when he’s pitching.”

Saarloos gave up one extra-base hit, a double to pinch-hitter Chalon Tietje in the eighth inning. It was only the fifth extra-base hit off Saarloos in 58 innings this season.

“He’s the best college pitcher in the country, and his numbers show that,” Cal Poly Coach Ritch Price said.

Saarloos threw only 48 pitches through the first six innings and had 94 for the game.

His shutout was in jeopardy in the eighth. An infield error, Tietje’s double and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, but a double play ended the inning.

“I didn’t want them to score, no matter what the score was,” Saarloos said. “I didn’t have my slider going well all the time, but I had it when I needed it. My fastball and changeup were working well. Cal Poly was aggressive at the plate and I tried to be aggressive too.”

Price said he felt his batters had to be aggressive against Saarloos.

“He’s not going to beat himself,” Price said. “You can’t take pitches against him.”

Horton said he also was pleased with the Titans’ 11-hit day on offense.

“We’re getting better,” Horton said. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a victory Saturday too, but we’re making strides. We need to establish consistency and a level of confidence.”

The Titans took control early with four runs in the first four innings.

David Bacani singled to lead off the first, advanced to third on two balks by Cal Poly starter Jared Blasdell (3-2) and scored on Mike Rouse’s one-out sacrifice fly.

Fullerton added another run in the second when Blasdell hit consecutive batters, and Shane Costa scored on Shawn Norris’ hit.

Blasdell had more trouble in the third, giving up three walks, the last forcing in a run, before he was replaced by Kevin Correia. Another run came across on an infield out.

The Titans put the game away with four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Bacani, his second of the season. It was Fullerton’s first homer by a player other than Aaron Rifkin since Feb. 17.