COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Anteaters’ Bladow Stops Long Beach for Fifth Victory

David Bladow continued his impressive start with a six-hitter as UC Irvine beat Cal State Long Beach, 4-2, in the Big West Conference baseball opener for both teams Friday at Irvine.

Bladow, a senior right-hander, struck out 10 as he improved his record to 5-0. It was also his fourth complete game in five starts. He went eight innings in the other outing. He has won as many games as he did last season, when he was 5-7.

Long Beach, which is ranked 13th in the Baseball America poll, scored single runs in the third and ninth. Irvine scored two each in the fourth and sixth.

Joe Furukawa had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in another, Steve Ott had a hit and scored two runs and Tim McDonnell and Chris Facione each had a hit and an RBI for Irvine (8-5, 1-0). Long Beach is 7-6, 0-1. The teams play at 1 p.m. today and Sunday.

In nonconference baseball:

CS Fullerton 12, Illinois 5--Fullerton (8-4) scored five runs in the seventh to take an 8-3 lead at Amerige Park in Fullerton. Paco Chavez relieved starter Bill Fitzgerald in the fourth and allowed two runs and six hits and struck out five in the final 5 2/3 innings for the Titans.

Phil Nevin had two hits including his fifth home run, and drove in three, and Tony Banks had three hits including two doubles and two RBIs for Fullerton. The teams play at 1 p.m. today and at noon Sunday.

Chapman 6, Grand Canyon 5--Kevin Monson had four hits, including a two-run home run, as Chapman won at Hart Park in Orange. It was the seventh consecutive victory for the Panthers (11-4). Monson also scored two runs. Jason White added a home run and two RBIs for Chapman.