Cal State Fullerton pitcher Connor Seabold is an advertising major.
On Friday night, Seabold made an attention-grabbing statement, pitching a two-hitter over eight innings in the 14th-ranked Titans’ 3-1 baseball victory over Hawaii at Les Murakami Stadium.
Seabold, a right-handed junior, did not allow a hit in the first five innings. He escaped a dilemma in the sixth when the ’Bows managed only one run after placing runners in scoring position with one out.
“I decided to take a step back,” Seabold said of the jam, “and I settled down after that.”
Seabold lived up to his rating as one of Baseball America’s top major league prospects. Seabold actually was the Baltimore Orioles’ 19th-round selection in 2014 before he decided to go to Fullerton and mystify college batters. Seabold has a four-pitch menu. But in the opener of this three-game Big West series, Seabold relied on a darting slider and a 92-mph fastball.
“I consider myself a four-pitch pitcher,” said Seabold, who walked three and struck out seven. “But when two of them are going, it’s hard to stay away from them. Whenever I have a good mix, it’s easier.”
UH coach Mike Trapasso said Seabold “was the story of the game. He completely shut us down. You tip your hat and thank the lord he’s not throwing (Saturday) or on Sunday again.”
Seabold received support from center fielder Scott Hurst, who went 4-for-4, scored the Titans’ first two runs and drove in the third.
The Titans scored a run in the seventh to extend their lead to 3-1 and chase UH starting pitcher Brendan Hornung. Catcher Scott Hudgins singled and then went to second on left fielder Chris Prescott’s sacrifice. Hurst then singled to center to score Hudgins.
Hornung departed after that, allowing six hits and walking three. Hornung allowed only six walks in his first 10 starts. He has issued seven walks in the past two starts.
“He didn’t have command like he normally does,” Trapasso said of Hornung. “His pitch count (47 in the first two innings) was through the roof. The only reason he stayed in there was because he was a warrior. He’s a bulldog.”
After going hitless and scoreless in the first five innings, the ’Bows closed to 2-1 in the sixth.
On the 73rd pitch from Seabold, second baseman Johnny Weeks drove a double down the left-field line to open the sixth. Center fielder Dylan Vchulek then was struck by a Seabold pitch. It was the 10th time Vchulek was hit this season.
Both runners advanced on shortstop Dustin Demeter’s sacrifice. Catcher Kekai Rios swung and missed on a 3-2 pitch, but the ball eluded catcher Hudgins. Weeks scored, Vchulek raced to third, and Rios reached first safely.
But the ’Bows missed a chance to tie it when they failed to execute a safety squeeze. When Johnny Rojas could not make contact on a bunt attempt, Vchulek was picked off third. “Dylan can’t be caught on that one,” Trapasso said. “If (the bunt) is not put down, you don’t go. It was a bad mistake on his part.”
Rojas eventually walked, but Seabold induced Adam Fogel to hit a flyout to end the threat.
The Titans took a 1-0 lead in the first. Hurst worked out of a two-strike hole to draw a leadoff walk. Hurst stole second — his fifth in six attempts this season — and scooted to third on second baseman Sahid Valenzuela’s groundout to the right side. Shortstop Timmy Richards then chopped a grounder over third baseman Josh Rojas to drive home Hurst.
In the fourth, Hurst tripled when Vchulek could not secure the long drive to right-center. One out later, Richards’ sacrifice fly to left scored Hurst to make it 2-0.
