CAL STATE FULLERTON WINS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville closer Zack Burdi hit Timmy Richards with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning to lift Cal State Fullerton to a 3-2 victory Saturday over the host Cardinals in the first game of the Louisville super regional.

The sophomore’s first pitch registered 100 mph, but it clipped Richards to push in the winning run.

“We got a little lucky,” Titans Coach Rick Vanderhook said. “I said it yesterday, you’ve got to have a little luck. We got lucky, and I’ll take all the luck we can get.”

The Titans (38-22) took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series against the Cardinals (46-17). Game 2 on Sunday will feature freshman lefthanders — Fullerton’s John Gavin (7-2, 3.55 ERA) and McKay (8-3, 1.71 ERA), who played first base for the Cardinals on Saturday.

The fourth meeting between the teams was a pitcher’s duel most of theway.

Titans starter Thomas Eshelman and Louisville starter Kyle Funkhouser, both expected to be early selections in the next week’s major league draft, matched each other nearly pitch for pitch. Eshelman, a junior right-hander, gave up one earned run and eight hits. He walked one — only his seventh walk all season — and struck out five in seven innings. Tyler Peitzmeier (4-3) got the win in relief.