Merrell, Titans Defeat Houston

Freshman pitcher Darric Merrell earned his first collegiate victory Saturday as Cal State Fullerton beat host Houston, 8-2, for the Titans’ second consecutive win.

Merrell (1-1) gave up five hits and two runs in seven innings.

David Bacani, Aaron Rifkin and Shawn Norris each had two hits for the Titans (10-8). Bacani scored three times.

Fullerton broke open a 3-1 game by scoring three runs in the fifth inning for a 6-1 lead.

Houston dropped to 6-15. The teams finish the three-game series today.

In Golden State Athletic Conference softball:

Vanguard 5-2, The Master’s 1-0--Vanguard took a 4-0 lead after two innings of the first game and had no trouble sweeping the doubleheader at Central Park in Valencia. Jessica Thompson hit a home run in the seventh inning of the first game for Vanguard. Pitcher Gina Liebengood had a perfect game until one out in the seventh when The Master’s put together two hits to break up the no-hitter and shutout.

In the second game, Alysia Atchley, Celina Camarillo and Liebengood combined to pitch a three-hitter. Third baseman Jill Jessen drove in Erin Gomez twice to account for both of Vanguard’s runs. The Lions improved to 14-6.

In Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball:

Stanford 3, UC Irvine 1--After dropping the first game, 30-25, the No. 7 Cardinal rallied to defeat the host Anteaters, 30-27, 30-25, 30-25. Erick Helenihi led No. 12 UC Irvine (6-10, 4-7) with 22 kills, while setter Todd Steinert contributed 52 assists. Marcus Skacel paced Stanford (10-4, 7-3) with 22 kills.

In the 2001 Hall of Fame Gymnastics Classic:

Titans win--Sophomore Kelly Mathiasen set two school records to lead host Cal State Fullerton (195.075) to victories over Illinois (193.925) and Sacramento State (193.625). Mathiasen scored 9.925 on the beam and finished with 39.375 in the all-around, eclipsing marks set by Marianne Griffen (9.90 in 1998) and Celest Delia (39.35 in 1993). The Titans’ Katie Antolin and Joanna Hughes tied for first in the bars with 9.850.