Nevada baseball gets swept by Fullerton
by Zack Hall, Outpost staff
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On the surface defense looks like a simple thing.
You watch the ball into the glove. Make a slick grab of the baseball, gently transfer the object from glove to throwing hand and make an accurate throw to the desired target for an out - like a baseball player has done a million times in his life.
It was not that simple for the Nevada baseball team during a three-game series last weekend, as the Wolf Pack experienced a total defensive lapse in getting swept by No. 8 Cal State Fullerton.
The Pack committed 15 errors in the three games, including eight in the final game, which Nevada lost 11-5. Of the 11 runs the Titans were able to tally, 10 were unearned.
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"Nobody wants to make mistakes, especially in big games like this one. Each player that differently. Some people handle that situation better than other people. Sometimes when you make a mistake they become more tense. Handling it comes with experience."
The loss all but destroyed the Pack's chances of winning a Big West Conference title this season, as the Titans improved to 9-0 in league play, four games ahead of Nevada at 5-4.
"It was a big series for us," right fielder Lyle Overbay said. "It is a long road for us to get back in the hunt. We have to win out and Fullerton has to lose five more games than us.
"It's good that Long Beach has to play then six times. We need help from them if we want to beat Fullerton."
Going into the series the pack had a chance to climb into first place with a series win but instead the pack dropped to fourth in the Big West race, a game behind Long Beach.
"In our case, we can't make anymore mistakes," Powers said. "For us to go onto regionals we have to finish in the top three in the conference. We just have to climb back in it."
Sunday's game was the most embarrassing for the Pack.
Fullerton was able to notch seven runs in the fourth inning, none of which were earned, to give itself an 8-0 lead.
Pack starter Chad Qualls was unable to stop the onslaught of the Titans in the inning and ended up with his first loss of the season after opening with six straight wins.
Though Qualls allowed eight runs in the five innings he pitched, his ERA dropped because only one of the runs were earned.
Fullerton's first baseman, Spencer Oborn, continued his hot streak by hitting safely for the 29th game in a row, the second longest in the conference this season. Joe Inglett of Nevada had a 32-game streak dating back to last season.
Offensively, the Pack was able to get on base with 10 hits. Leading the way was Arona Taele, who hit a round-tripper, along with catcher Matt Ortiz and Don Price, who both hit solo homers.
The second game of the series was the most competitive of the three games. The Pack lost 5-4, with Fullerton scoring a run in the last of the ninth to cinch the victory.
Nevada did all its damage in the second inning by scoring four runs to take an early 4-2 lead. Inglett's bases-loaded double, which cleared the bases, keyed the attack. Ut Fullerton was able to chip away at the lead one run at a time.
The first came in the bottom of the second, the second came in the fifth and the final was the game winner in the ninth.
As was the consistent theme of the series, Pack starter Matt Rainer gave up four runs in his four-and-a-third innings pitched. Only one was earned as the Pack committed four errors. "We didn't play very good defense," Overbay said. "Especially in key situations in which we neede to most.
"It was a big game and we got caught up in that. Our nerves got to us, which was frustrating to watch. We were trying too hard."
Scott Albin came in to relieve and was able to stifle the Fullerton offense and not letting the Titans cross the plate in until the ninth.
With two outs in the ninth, designated hitter Aaron Rifkin hit a double off the left-field wall, scoring David Bacani and ending the series. Albin was saddled with the loss.
The series opener, Fullerton's 11-5 win, set the tone for the bloopers that were to come.
In the first two innings of the game, it appeared the Pack would not fall into the same trap that it had against Fullerton in past years.
The pack jumped out to a five-run lead after its first two at-bats but, Fullerton fought back in the bottom half of the second inning with two runs.
And then the Titans dealt the deathblow with six runs in the third off starter Ryan Church and reliever Bryan Schultz.
Third baseman Jarell McIntyre was able to hand the most punishment to the Titan pitchers with two RBIs.
"We had a good start Friday," Powers said. "Saturday we had the lead and Sunday I thought we pitched well. Other than one inning on Friday, we pitched fine. They scored six runs in one inning. We walked a lot of batters. We didn't pitch our way out of a jam."
It will not get any easier for Nevada, with No. 17 Long Beach State coming to town this weekend.
"There is always the potential for that to happen again," Powers said. "Some guys make great plays one some days and some days they don't. I won't worry until it happens again."
The 49ers boast the third best record in the Big West at 6.3. Last season LBSU went to the College World Series but Nevada was still able to take two out of three in the series at Peccole Park.
But now the Pack's back is against the wall, making this series crucial for both teams.
"We're disappointed but I can't say we're down," Powers said. "We're smart enough to know we have a long way to go. We have a goal and that goal is still reachable. We can't change last weekend."
Posted April 2, 1999
Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost
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