Box Score (PDF)

FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton stranded 13 base runners on the night including two in the bottom of the 10th and dropped a 5-4 Big West Conference decision to UC Irvine in extra innings Saturday night at Goodwin Field.

The Titans (21-20, 7-4) recorded nine hits on the night but only one in the final five innings of play against the Anteaters (24-15, 11-3).

Cameron Bishop starred for the Anteaters, driving in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning with a single through the left side of the infield to plate Mikey Duarte, who led off the frame with a single.

Bishop, who started the game in right field, also got it done on the mound as came in to relieve starter Matt Esparza with two outs in the sixth inning and shut down the Titans offense, allowing the one hit in four and 1/3 innings of work. He walked two and struck out two en route to his second win of the season.

For the Titans, David Olmedo-Barrera led the way as he went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs on the night. Scott Hurst was 2-for-3 while Taylor Bryant, A.J. Kennedy, Tanner Pinkston and Josh Vargas all recorded a hit apiece.

Fullerton jumped out in front for the second straight night, picking up a run in the fourth inning after Olmedo-Barrera blasted a solo home run into the trees overlooking right-center field.

But the Anteaters responded in the fifth inning with a two-out rally, started by Cole Kreuter's single off Justin Garza. Mikey Duarte followed with a single of his own and then Kris Paulino made it three straight singles with a hit through the right side of the infield to tie the game 1-1. Left fielder Keston Hiura then provided the big hit of the inning, launching an opposite field home run off Garza to put the Anteaters up 4-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Titans tied the game with three runs thanks in part to a defensive miscue by the Anteaters. A.J. Kennedy led off the inning with a single and then Taylor Bryant walked to put the first two men aboard for Fullerton. Vargas stepped in and laid down a perfect bunt down the third-base line. Grant Palmer tried to get the out at first but his throw went into foul territory and two runs came in to score to cut the deficit to 4-3 with Vargas scurrying all the way to third base on the error. After a strikeout, Olmedo-Barrera again came through with an RBI, fisting a single over the drawn-in infield and into left to score Vargas and tie the score, 4-4.

It stayed that way until the 10th, when Duarte led off with a single off Tyler Peitzmeier. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and got to third on a fielder's choice before scoring on Bishop's single.

The Titans had their chances as they loaded the bases against Bishop in the sixth and seventh innings with two outs but came up empty each time.

The teams will return to the field for the rubber match of the critical conference series with lefties John Gavin and Evan Manarino getting the ball on the mound for the Titans and Anteaters respectively.

Notes: The Anteaters snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Titans with Saturday's win. It was also UC Irvine's first win at Goodwin Field since April 8, 2011… The Titans are now 2.5 games back of the Anteaters in the standings and one game back in the loss column… Jerrod Bravo was 0-for-3 but was hit by a pitch to reach base safely in his 23rd straight game… The Titans had won six straight games when they hit a home run prior to Saturday's loss.