April 25, 2008
Box Score
FULLERTON, Calif. - Erik Kamatsu drove home a game-high three runs off two singles, and Jeff Kaplan struck out eight batters and surrender only two runs to lead No. 15 Cal State Fullerton to a 5-3 victory over UC Davis in the opening game of a Big West Conference baseball series Friday night in front 2,272 fans at Goodwin Field. Ty Kelly led the Aggies with a two-run homer, a double, two runs scored and three hits.
UC Davis lost its third straight conference game to fall to 6-4 and 25-14 overall. The Titans improve to 25-14 and 10-3 against conference opponents to hold on to first place. The game was also live on Big West TV, marking the third time this season UC Davis has been featured by the live video stream.
Cal State Fullerton got on the board first with two runs in the third inning to take an early lead. After two straight singles and a sacrifice bunt to open the inning, Komatsu drove a sacrifice fly to right field to score the first run. Corey Jones singled to bring home the second run of the inning.
The Aggies tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run fifth inning. Following a Ryan Royster double, Kelly hit a home run to right field to knot the score.
The Titans retook the lead in the bottom half of the fifth with two more runs. Komatsu had a two-run single to bring his RBI total to three. They brought their lead to three runs with a manufactured run in the eighth inning. Komatsu singled to open the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third. Reliever Andy Suiter struck out a batter and Jake Jefferies threw out a base runner, but a run down before the tag out gave Komatsu enough time to score from third.
UC Davis used some Fullerton miscues in the ninth inning to score a run and bring the tying run to the plate. Kelly doubled with two outs and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He would score the next play off a passed ball following a swinging third strike to score his second run of the night.
Titan starter Kaplan struck out a game-best eight batters to earn his seventh victory of the season. Adam Jorgenson struck out two in the ninth and gave up a run to earn his fifth save of the season
Aggie starter Eddie Gamboa had five strike outs and allowed four runs in only his second loss of the year.
The series continues tomorrow at 6 p.m. That game will also be shown on Big West TV.
