Titans Run Into Pacific’s Top Pitcher

Cal State Fullerton found out why Pacific’s Dan Reichert is the most successful pitcher in the Big West this season.

Reichert, a 6-foot-3 junior right-hander, held the Titans to six hits with a crisp fastball and darting slider, and the Tigers won the opener of a three-game series, 8-0, Thursday night at Titan Field.

It was the third time the Titans have been shut out in their last five games. Fullerton has been shut out three times in only two other seasons, 1982 and 1991.

The victory by Pacific (20-13, 5-5 in the Big West) ended Fullerton’s 11-game winning streak against the Tigers. It was only the Tigers’ fifth victory over Fullerton (18-14, 6-4) in 41 games dating to 1975. Pacific hadn’t beaten the Titans since 1992.

It was Reichert’s ninth victory in 11 decisions, and the complete game lowered his earned-run average to 1.35.

“He’s good, but we knew that coming in,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “He’s definitely one of the top pitchers in the league, as well as in the country. But as good as he is, we didn’t do a very good job of putting the ball into play.”

Reichert, whose appearance attracted 29 major league scouts, had 11 strikeouts, getting Scott Seal and Jerome Alviso three times each. “He has a real good command of his slider, and he throws it well on any count,” Seal said.

Titan starter Matt Wise (1-5) gave up seven hits and four runs in seven innings. Wise got off to a rocky start, giving up three consecutive hits and throwing three wild pitches in a three-run first inning.

Ryan Annett and Eric Niheu singled, and Annett scored on a wild pitch. Tye Hanseen’s double drove in another run, and Hanseen scored on a passed ball charged to catcher Mike Lamb.

“Our catcher took the night off,” Horton said. “Those wild pitches were balls that should have been blocked.”

The Titans threatened in the second, loading the bases with two out, but Pete Fukuhara’s fly ball to deep center ended the inning. Fullerton had two hits in the third, but a double play helped Reichert stay in command.

A wild pitch cost Wise another run in the seventh. Joe Camarata, who led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice and went to third on an infield out. Camarata scored on Wise’s fourth wild pitch of the game.

Dustin Spencer replaced Wise in the eighth and also ran into trouble. The Tigers scored four more runs, all of them unearned, including one on a wild pitch by Spencer. Pacific finished with 12 hits.

In another Big West game:

Long Beach State 22, Sacramento State 3--The 49ers opened this romp with an 11-run first inning. Three players for Long Beach State had three RBIs each. Long Beach State’s score was the second highest in the school’s history. The 49ers improve to 18-12.