Wes Littleton threw his first career shutout as No. 15 Cal State Fullerton
beat 17th-ranked Long Beach State, 6-0, in a nonconference baseball game
at Goodwin Field Friday night.
It marked the first time in 67 games – a span dating back to 1987
– that the Titans shut out Long Beach State. The win improved Fullerton's
record to 14-9, while the 49ers, who had their eight-game winning streak
snapped, fell to 15-7.
Littleton (4-2), who allowed five hits and two walks while striking out
six in a 100-pitch effort, lowered his ERA to 1.44. Not only was it the
sophomore's first career shutout; it was also his first complete game
(he was lifted after 8.2 innings vs. Fresno State earlier this season).
Fullerton scored runs in each of the first three frames off Daniel Eisentrager
(4-2) to grab a 4-0 lead. Leadoff hitter John Hanley reached on the first
of three 49er errors to open the bottom of the first, moved to third on
one of Shane Costa's three hits and scored on a groundout by Jason Corapci.
Justin Smyres produced a run with a groundout in the second and both Richie
Burgos and Chris Stringfellow had RBI-singles in the two-run fourth.
Fullerton made it 6-0 in the seventh on doubles by Nick Fitzgerald and
Costa and a sacrifice fly by Corapci.
Long Beach, which stranded eight runners, had it best scoring chances
in the middle innings, but the 49ers left the bases loaded in the fourth
and couldn't score with runners at first and second and one out in the
fifth. Littleton retired the final five batters of the game and recorded
the final two outs by way of strikeout.
The teams will meet again on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field.
