April 15, 2007

Titans 6, Aggies 3
Titans 9, Aggies 8 (8 inn.)

DAVIS, Calif. - Despite four hits by center fielder Ryan Royster, UC Davis was unable to overcome a six-run deficit, dropping an eight-inning, 9-8 decision against 18th-ranked Cal State Fullerton in the nightcap of a gusty collegiate baseball doubleheader at Dobbins Baseball Stadium Sunday.

The Aggies, who drop to 11-21 overall, lost Sunday's opener by a 6-3 final. The Titans improve to 23-12 for the season. Game 1 was a make-up date from Saturday's rain postponement. Game 2 was constrained to eight innings as both teams agreed that no inning would start after 5 p.m.

In a baseball rarity, the clock played a part during UC Davis' comeback in the eighth inning. Daniel Descalso and Kevin James each were aboard as the clock reached the five o'clock limit, ensuring that the eighth inning would be the last. Junior Adam Jorgenson struck out Evan Hudson and Kyle Mihaylo to pick up his second save of the day.

UC Davis struck first in Game 2 as Royster led off the game with a double to right, then Descalso drove him in two batters later. Jacob Jefferies tacked on another run in the first with a sacrifice fly to plate Brandon Oliver. However, the Titans erased the lead in the second as Matt Wallach's triple to the right-center gap highlighted a two-run inning.

The Aggies briefly regained the lead in the bottom half of the second when Royster's second hit, a single to center, drove in leadoff batter Michael Jacobellis. UC Davis had a chance to score additional runs in that inning, but lost out on a wind-aided situation with two outs and two on. Senior Aaron Hanke popped up a ball that normally would have drifted beyond his own dugout along the first base line, but a gust of wind brought the ball back into fair territory. Wallach picked up the loose ball and handed it to Corey Jones to retire Hanke, who assumed his ball was foul and did not run to first. Royster had already crossed the plate and Descalso was rounding third at the time of the putout.

But Fullerton fought back with a vengeance, scoring two runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings, building a 9-3 lead by the middle of the sixth.

UC Davis rallied for five runs in the sixth to cut the score to 9-8. The first six Aggies reached, including a two-run double by Dempsey off CSF reliever Michael Morrison. Royster then picked up his fourth safety, delivering a stand-up triple to the warning track to score Dempsey. Oliver drove in Royster with a bleeder through the infield, then scored himself on a fielder's choice to cut the margin to 9-8.

The Titans held the Aggies scoreless in the seventh and eighth, leaving runners in scoring position in both opportunities.

Titan center fielder Clark Hardman batted 2-for-5 with an RBI in the second game, matching his totals from the opener. Wallach was 3-for-4 with two RBI while shortstop Joe Scott was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the nightcap.

Jacobellis batted 2-for-3 with a pair of runs in Game 2, an encore to his similar 2-for-3 game in Sunday's opener. Junior righty Marco Grifantini was a bright spot in the UC Davis pen, firing a pair of scoreless innings to silence the Titan bats in Game 2.

Fullerton crafted an early lead in Game 1, scoring three runs on doubles by John Curtis and Evan McArthur in the second inning. The Titans bumped the lead to four runs in the fourth as McArthur sent an RBI single to left, scoring Nick Mahin. The Aggies charged back in their fourth as James' RBI double ignited a two-out rally. Justin Schafer followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, Kaplan coerced Dempsey to ground out with the bases loaded, ending the threat.

Hanke had a chance to tie the game in the seventh when he lofted a short fly down the left field line. Scott made a diving attempt to haul in the pop-up but the ball glanced off his glove and rolled to the corner. Left fielder Jeff Fellhauer chased it down, relayed it to the third baseman McArthur, who spun and threw out Hanke at the plate.

The Aggies also stranded three runners in the sixth, again loading the bases after Kaplan had retired the first two batters. Schafer reached when McArthur's throw short-hopped his first baseman, then Jacobellis singled and Royster walked to load the bags. Once again, Kaplan pitched his way out of the jam, retiring Dempsey on strikes.

The Titans tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, first on Fellhauer's sacrifice fly then another on an RBI single by designated hitter Khris Davis.

McArthur batted 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the opner. Kaplan picked up the victory, allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings. Jorgenson fanned two Aggies and allowed just two hits in the first of his two saves of the day.

For UC Davis, Descalso, Hanke and Jacobellis each had two hits in the opener.

The Aggies return to action on Tuesday at Saint Mary's for a 2:30 p.m. tilt.

GAME 1

Jeff Kaplan, Paul Canedo (7), Adam Jorgenson (8) and John Curtis. Brad McAtee, Eddie Gamboa (6) and Jacob Jefferies, Matt Van Orden (9). Win - Kaplan, 6-2. Loss - McAtee, 1-3. Save - Jorgenson, 5. Hitters - CSF: Clark Hardman 2x5, RBI; Khris Davis 2x5, RBI; John Curtis 1x5, 2B, Evan McArthur 3x4, 2B, 2 RBI; Joe Scott 1x1, 2B, RBI. UC Davis: Matt Dempsey 1x5, RBI; Daniel Descalso 2x5, Aaron Hanke 2x5, 3B; Evan Hudson 1x5, Jacob Jefferies 1x3, 2B; Kevin James 1x3, 2B, RBI; Justin Schafer 1x4, RBI; Michael Jacobellis 2x3.

GAME 2

Sean Urena, Michael Morrison (2), Justin Klipp (6), Dustin Birosak (7), Adam Jorgenson (8) and Dustin Garneau. Jeff Reekers, Scott Chew (4), Justin Fitzgerald (5), Colin McCusker (5), Marco Grifantini (7) and Jacob Jefferies. Win - Morrison, 4-1. Loss - Reekers, 4-3. Save - Jorgenson, 6. Hitters - CSF: Clark Hardman 2x5, 2B, RBI; Nick Mahin 1x3, RBI; John Curtis 1x3, RBI; Matt Wallach 3x4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Joe Scott 3x3, 2B, RBI. UC Davis: Ryan Royster 4x5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Brandon Oliver 1x4, RBI; Daniel Descalso 2x3, 2B, RBI; Kevin James 1x1, Evan Hudson 1x4, RBI; Kyle Mihaylo 1x4; Michael Jacobellis 2x3, 2B; Matt Dempsey 1x4, 2B, 2 RBI.