Cal State Fullerton’s Daniel Renken allowed just one hit through 8.2 innings as the fifth-ranked Titans defeated UC Santa Barbara, 7-2 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
CSUF improves to 30-12 overall and 10-6 in the Big West while UCSB falls to 23-16, 6-7.
Marty Mullins ripped a triple to center field to lead off the third inning, however, he was stranded there as Renken struck out the side to begin a run of 12 of the next 14 batters retired. Though Renken walked five batters, the Gauchos could not capitalize until the ninth inning.
UCSB scored its runs on John DeAlba’s two-run double in the ninth inning, which scoredEric Oliver and Ryan Cavan, who had walked and reached on a fielder’s choice, respectively. That was all for Renken, who struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits – both for extra bases – in his 8.2 innings pitched.
Ryan Ackland relieved Renken and struck out Shane Carlson to end the game.
UCSB starter Joe Gardner, who was the first Gaucho pitcher to open a season 6-0 in five years and who was named to the College Baseball Federation’s Pitcher of the Year watch list this week, allowed six runs on nine hits in seven innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Mullins’ triple, his first of the season, prevented Renken from taking a no-hitter into the ninth. That was all the Gauchos could muster against the sophomore right-hander.
DeAlba’s ninth-inning double means he has hit in 14 of his past 16 games while knocking in 12 RBI in that stretch. The Goleta, Calif. native is hitting .313 in that time.
