University Southern California Trojans
Pepperdine Shuts Out Fresno State in NCAA Regional Game
May 25, 2001 | Baseball
May 25, 2001
LOS ANGELES-Pepperdine's Daniel Haren gave up just 5 hits while pitching a complete game shutout and helped himself with a run-scoring double as the designated hitter to lead Pepperdine to a 4-0 win over Fresno State in the second game of the NCAA Baseball Los Angeles Regional before 756 fans at USC's Dedeaux Field on Friday evening (May 25).
No. 11 Pepperdine, seeded second in the regional, improved to 42-16, while unranked and third-seeded Fresno State dropped to 39-24. It was the first time the Bulldogs were shut out in 68 games dating to late in the 1999 season.
Haren, who is 11-3 this year, struck out 5 and walked just 1.
"It's nice to get this win behind us," said Pepperdine head coach Frank Sanchez. "Hopefully, that just whets our whistle for the remainder of the regional."
Jared Pitney got Pepperdine on the board with a home run (his 13th of the year) down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the second inning off of starter Nick Moran, who fell to 6-6 in taking the loss. Moran was charged with all 4 runs while striking out 6 and surrendering 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Waves added a run in the third when Tony Garcia's sacrifice fly brought in Rock Mills, who had singled to open the inning.
Pepperdine made it 4-0 in the fourth when back-to-back doubles by Haren and Dane Ball plated both Pitney (he got on base when Fresno State shortstop Josh Labandeira dropped his popup in shallow left field) and Haren.
The Bulldogs got a runner to second base only once. They threatened in the top of the sixth when Tobey Ridley-White and pinch hitter Tony Guzman both singled with no outs, but leadoff hitter Oscar Lopez grounded into a double play and Nick Garcia flied out to center field.
"Haren pitched a great game," said Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett. "I thought Moran also did a great job. We just didn't get enough hits."
Pepperdine next plays on Saturday (May 26) at 3 p.m. against No. 2-ranked and first-seeded USC, a 12-4 winner over No. 25, fourth-seeded Oral Roberts in Friday's opening game. Fresno State meets Oral Roberts in an elimination game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
