No. 8 Fullerton Hands Baseball Its First Loss of the Season, 12-10

Feb. 15, 2004

TUCSON, Ariz.- The No. 15-ranked Arizona baseball team suffered its first loss of the season, 12-10, in a marathon four-hour game to No. 8 Cal State Fullerton on Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium on Sunday. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 5-1 for the season while the Titans improved to 4-5 and avoided its second series sweep of the year.

CSF's four-run eighth inning proved to be the difference in the game as the Arizona bullpen could not solve the Titan bats. Tied at 8-8, Fullerton pulled ahead for good in the inning on a two-run homer by Sergio Pedroza, a RBI single by Neil Walton and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Justin Turner.

The Wildcats responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on Jason Donald's two-run homer, his second of the series, but it wasn't enough as Fullerton's Mike Martinez limited the damage and put the Wildcats away.

Freshman Mark Melancon (2-1) was charged with his first loss after giving up four runs on five hits in just 2/3 of an inning on the mound. CSF's Martinez (1-0) picked up the win with 3 1/3 innings of relief.

In a game that saw CSF and UA combine to use a total of 13 pitchers, eight of whom threw for Arizona, the two offenses rapped out 28 hits, nine doubles, two triples and five home runs on the day.

Sophomore Brad Boyer paced the Arizona effort at the plate with a 3 for 5, four-RBI and three-run day. Boyer led off the game with his first home run of the season on the first pitch he saw to hand Arizona the early 1-0 lead.

Donald, who helped spur Arizona to two victories on Friday and Saturday, finished the contest on Sunday 2 for 5 with the home run, three RBI and two runs scored.

Offensive standouts for the Titans included Pedroza, who finished 2 for 5 with three RBI, Kurt Suzuki - 3 for 5 and two runs, Neil Walton - 3 for 3, two RBI and two runs and Tuner who went 2 for 3 with a team-high four RBI.

The Wildcats will return to action next weekend against UC Irvine. First pitch for the opening game of the three-game series is scheduled for 3 pm on Friday.

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