Titans’ Skid Continues at Miami

Cal State Fullerton’s late-season slide continued Thursday when Miami freshman Pat Burrell hit an eighth-inning home run to give the Hurricanes a 5-4 victory at Mark Light Stadium in Coral Gables, Fla.

It was the Titans’ ninth loss in their last 13 games.

Burrell’s home run off reliever Luis Estrella (3-1) was especially crushing to the 11th-ranked Titans, who had just tied it, 4-4, on C.J. Ankrum’s grand slam in the top of the inning.

It was the 17th home run this season for Burrell, a semifinalist for the Rotary Smith Award, which goes to the college player of the year.

Fullerton’s rally started when Miami starter Clint Weibl hit Tony Martinez to start the eighth. Jack Jones reached on an error and Jerome Alviso got an infield hit to load the bases.

Ankrum then hit his home run, his fourth, off Bob Petretta.

Miami, ranked sixth by Baseball America, scored three times in the fifth off starter Kirk Irvine. Eddie Rivero started the inning with his seventh home run and Rudy Gomez hit a two-run home run, his 11th, later in the inning.

It was the third consecutive game that Miami has hit two home runs in the same inning.

Allan Westfall, who pitched one-third of an inning got the victory to improve to 3-1. Freshman Robbie Morrison pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

The teams play again tonight and Saturday at 4 p.m.