Randy Curtis hit a game-tying home run and Jose Ortega drove in the go-ahead
run with a sac fly as San Diego broke a 21-game winless streak against
Cal State Fullerton with a 7-4 win at Goodwin Field Tuesday night.
The Toreros, who were 0-20-1 against Fullerton since a 6-1 win on March
17, 1987, improved to 7-11. Fullerton dropped to 9-11 and is tied with
the 1991 team for the worst mark through 20 games.
Josh Butler (2-1) pitched 1.1 no-hit innings to pick up the win and anchored
a bullpen effort that allowed just a run on three hits over the final
five innings. Fullerton, which stranded 14 runners, scored once in the
ninth and loaded the bases to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but
Brett Pill grounded out to third to end the game.
Fullerton grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run double
down the left field line by Sergio Pedroza, who was 3-for-4. After the
Toreros tied the game, Fullerton again moved ahead on Kurt Suzuki's bases-loaded
walk in the fourth.
But San Diego, which was held to two runs through five innings by Titan
pitchers Vinnie Pestano and Scott Sarver, got to Lauren Gagnier (2-2)
in the sixth and scored single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings
for a comfortable lead.
Josh Hansen, Jordan Abruzzo, Keoni Ruth and Curtis each had two hits for
the Toreros, who outhit Fullerton, 11-8.
Fullerton will host Minnesota in a three-game nonconference series this
weekend.
