March 11, 2006

Box Score

Cal State Fullerton 5, ECU 0
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FULLERTON, CALIF. - The East Carolina baseball team ran into a buzz saw Friday night as Cal State Fullerton's starting pitcher Wes Roemer tossed a complete game shutout en route to a career-high 12 strikeouts in a 5-0 win at Goodwin Field.

In the bottom of the third inning Cal State plated all five runs on three hits to secure their 12th win of the young season. With one out, Justin Turner got the Titans rally going when he took first base after being hit by Pirate pitcher T.J. Hose. A Blake Davis single put runners on the corners with one out. After Hose got Brett Pill to strike out on an off speed pitch, Davis stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. The Titans designated hitter David Cooper received a free pass to first on an intentional walk setting up a force play at any base. Jared Clark followed Cooper's walk with one of his own bringing home the Titans first run of the game when Turner scored from third.

Cal State Fullerton's John Curtis, who was in a 0-10 slump heading into the game, collected one of his three hits when he laced a three-run double to right center clearing the bases and putting the Titans (12-6) up 4-0 with two outs. Brandon Tripp followed Curtis with a double of his own, scoring Curtis from second to make it a 5-0 Cal State Fullerton lead.

Hose, who was making his fifth start of the season, threw six innings of work allowing six hits, five runs (all earned), while walking four and striking out one. Junior lefty Jason Neitz came in to relieve Hose in the seventh and tossed a scoreless 1 2/3 innings with one strikeout. Chris Powell made a brief 1/3 inning appearance getting Evan McArthur to fly out to center field.

Of the Pirates (12-4) eight hits on the night, seven came from the left side of the plate with sophomore Dale Mollenhauer and junior Ryan Tousley each collecting two. Harrison Eldridge was the only Pirate to record an extra base hit with his double to right-center in the top of the fifth inning.

The Pirates were primed to strike gold in the top of the second when Adam Witter led off with a single to center. Stephen Batts reached first on a fielder's choice before being picked off at first by Wes Roemer. Jake Dean and Ryan Tousley each followed with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with two outs before Drew Schieber struck out swinging to end the inning.

ECU left seven runners on base with two coming in the second inning and one in each the third, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth.

The two teams will be back in action Saturday night at 9 p.m. (EST) for game two of the three-game series.