Junior pitcher Thomas Eshelman took the loss Friday in his first outing of 2015 despite tossing six strong innings, giving up just two runs on five hits and striking out 10 batters. Eshelman walked one batter, only the 12th base on balls in his Titan career.
Eleonor Segura / Daily Titan File Photo
Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team started the 2015 season this weekend with two heartbreakers and a big win at the Opening Weekend Challenge hosted by the University of South Florida.
The Titans opened their season Friday afternoon against tournament host USF, off the back of a strong outing from junior Thomas Eshelman (0-1), who faced 23 hitters over six innings and gave up only five hits and one walk. Eshelman’s walk was only his 12th in 245 1/3 innings pitched. Eshelman also recorded 10 strikeouts while allowing only two earned runs. Senior reliever Tyler Peitzmeier also performed well, striking out all six batters he faced.
The Titans took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning after junior outfielder Tyler Stieb got hit by a pitch before being brought home on a two out RBI single by sophomore third baseman Taylor Bryant.
Unfortunately for the Titans, that’s all USF’s All-American Athletic Conference first team starter Jimmy Herget allowed, who went five innings and struck out nine with four walks allowed. Reliever Joe Cavallaro picked up the win after the Bulls rallied a string of hits to plate two in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up 2-1.
The Titans had a chance to tie it up in the top of the ninth against Bulls closer Tommy Peterson. Titan outfielder David Olmedo-Barrera started a one out rally, but Fullerton fell short after junior pinch hitter Dalton Blaser struck out to end the game. The result handed the Titans their first loss of the season.
The Titans squared off against the Alabama State Hornets on Saturday afternoon for their second of three games over the weekend. Fullerton squandered another early lead, losing to the Hornets, 3-2.
CSUF jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, led off by freshman catcher Chris Hudgins’ single to right. Hudgins’ leadoff hit was followed by a bunt single down the third base line by freshman outfielder Scott Hurst, before Bryant and junior outfielder Josh Vargas both collected RBI singles to bring them home.
In the sixth inning, the Hornets stung back with three runs of their own. The CSUF relievers came apart at the top of the sixth, hitting two batters, giving up a walk and allowing three runs on three hits.
Senior reliever Willie Kuhl drilled Hornets shortstop P.J. Biocic for a free pass before giving up an RBI double to Einar Muniz, which cut the Titan lead to 2-1. Redshirt sophomore Miles Chambers ultimately got the loss after issuing a two-out walk and a passed ball that moved two Hornets into scoring position. The runners were brought home by a Hunter Allen single to go up 3-2 and give Alabama State their first victory of the season.
On Sunday, the Titan bats came to life as Fullerton jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back in their 8-6 victory over No. 12 Louisville.
The Titans plated four in the first thanks to an RBI double by sophomore Josh Estill, who himself was brought in by a 2-RBI single off the bat of Hudgins. The Fullerton catcher was in turn brought home by junior Dustin Vaught to make it 4-0.
Freshman starter John Gavin picked up the win for the Titans in his first start for CSUF, allowing only four earned runs on nine hits and recording five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Peitzmeier also showed his dominance, striking out two while picking up his first save of the season.
Throughout the weekend, the Titans (1-2) showed their potential for a winning season. They will be looking to bounce back to .500 on the season and to regain a place in the top 25 against USC Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field.