Corona Pitches Fullerton to Victory

Junior Ronnie Corona won his third consecutive decision Saturday, giving up seven hits and striking out a season-high eight in seven innings to help Cal State Fullerton defeat Pacific, 3-0, in a Big West baseball game in Stockton.

After scoring on a fifth-inning error, the Titans (33-17, 19-7 in conference) received run-scoring singles from Shawn Norris and Mike Martinez in the sixth. Martinez, Norris and second baseman David Bacani each had two hits.

Nick Guichard had three hits for Pacific (22-28, 5-21).

In the eighth, Corona gave way to reliever Kirk Saarloos, who struck out four and gave up one hit in picking up his sixth save.

The first-place Titans lead Nevada, which on Saturday defeated Long Beach State, 8-4, by two games with four to play. Long Beach State is three games behind.

Cal State Fullerton concludes its three-game series against Pacific at 1 p.m. today.

In Big West Conference softball:

Pacific 1, Cal State Fullerton 0--Cindy Ball pitched a one-hitter with three strikeouts for the host Tigers (31-25, 15-9).

Third baseman Dara Marzolo’s single was the only hit given up by Ball. Fullerton is 44-13, 19-5.

Kelly Lowry singled to drive in Tiffany Whipple with the game’s only run for Pacific.

In the NCAA Division III West Regional:

Pacific Lutheran 5, Chapman 1--Linsey Buendia struck out eight, but Chapman committed four errors and Pacific Lutheran scored five unearned runs in the winner’s bracket final. Jessica Baca’s two-run single gave Pacific Lutheran a 3-0 lead in the fourth.

In an elimination game that followed, Chapman (34-9) defeated UC San Diego, 4-1. Dawn Lopez and Leslie Prochaska each had run-scoring singles for the Panthers, who will play Pacific Lutheran (36-4-1) at noon today in the championship game. A second game will follow if Chapman wins.