Anteaters miss out on sweep

FULLERTON — In a game that was paradise for those second guessing both coaches, Cal State Fullerton Coach Dave Serrano played the winning card in the Titans’ 5-4 victory in 10 innings over Big West Conference visitor UC Irvine Sunday.

Serrano sent fifth-year senior Matthew Fahey up to pinch-hit with one out and the bases loaded in the 10th, in place of Joey Siddons, who was three for three and had reached in all four plate appearances to that point.

“All Fahey does is hit fly balls,” said Serrano, whose No. 1-ranked team rallied from a 4-1 deficit and averted what would have been the first time it was swept at home since 2002.

The loss ended a six-game winning streak for No. 8-ranked UCI (19-8, 5-1 in conference).

UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said it was one that got away.

UCI failed to execute in several offensive situations in which a run might have been key.

“Hey, when you lose, you second guess six things, or 12 things,” Gillespie said.

UCI squandered another solid performance by sophomore starting pitcher Crosby Slaught, who allowed one run, in 5 2/3 innings and exited with a 4-1 lead.

UCI relievers Kyle Necke, Noel Avison and Cory Hamilton allowed the Titans to score twice to cut into the lead, but still handed a 4-3 advantage over to junior All-American closer Eric Pettis to start the eighth.

A single by Siddons tied the game with two outs in the eighth.

In the 10th, Pettis walked Tyler Pill to start the rally. Khris Davis followed with a single on a fly ball to right center that three players closed on, but failed to glove. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bun and Gillespie called for an intentional walk to load the bases, setting the table for Fahey.

The ’Eaters had two on and one out in the eighth, but hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

UCI loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but pinch-hitter Brock Bardeen struck out and Ryan Fisher flied out to end the threat.

In the UCI 10th, senior shortstop Ben Orloff opened with a line-drive single to right and Eric Deragisch followed with a walk.

Gillespie asked junior third baseman Jeff Cusick, who hit a solo homer in the first to give UCI its first lead, to sacrifice.

He squared to bunt, but took two strikes, then fanned on an outside pitch, on which Orloff was thrown out at third on a hit-and-run play.

Jordan Fox then grounded out and Fullerton (20-7, 3-3) cashed in in the 10th.

“It wasn’t easy,” Serrano said. “I tip my hat to the Irvine team. I thought for the first two days, they definitely outplayed us in every facet of the game.”

Big West Conference

Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Irvine 4 (10 innings)

SCORE BY INNINGS

Slaught, Necke (6), Avison (7), Hamilton (7), Pettis (8) and Larson; Pill, Morrison (9), Ackland (10) and Marcoe, Garneau (9). W – Ackland, 2-0. L – Pettis, 2-1. 2B – Olivares (UCI). HR – Cusick (UCI).