FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton lost a barn burner to Stanford Sunday afternoon at Goodwin Field, 14-11. The Titans drop to 0-3 to open the season following the loss.
Similar to the two games on Saturday, Fullerton fell behind early as Stanford scored three runs in the top half of the first inning. Through the first three games of the series, Stanford has scored 10 combined runs in the first inning.
However, unlike the previous games the Titans quickly responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning to tie the game at 3-3.
Following back-to-back walks by Eli Lopez and Carter Johnstone to open the inning, Marcos Rosales hit a single over the third baseman's head to bring in Lopez and get Fullerton in the scoring column.
The next batter, Andrew Kirchner, kept the scoring going on the first pitch he saw with a single to right field to score Johnstone and make it a one score game.
Maddox Latta capped off the three-run inning with a beautiful bunt single down the right field line to drive in Rosales and tie the game at 3-3.
Stanford responded with one run in the top of the second inning to retake the lead, 4-3.
The Titans once again had an answer, this time scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an 8-4 lead.
Waldie Perez led-off the inning being hit by a pitch before a Lopez single advanced him to third base. What was going to be a productive out by Jakob Schardt allowing Perez to score from third base, turned into an error on Stanford to leave the Titans with runners on first and third with one out.
Rosales was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Following a pitching change for Stanford, Kirchner wasted no time welcoming him to the mound with a two-run single through the right side of the infield to give Fullerton a 6-4 lead.
The Titans weren't done yet as Maddox Latta reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Schardt and give the Titans a 7-4 lead. With the bases loaded and two outs the inning seemed to be over when Perez swung at a ball in the dirt, however, the Stanford catcher was unable to stop the ball from going to the backstop which gave Latta the green light to score from third and put the Titans up 8-4.
The Cardinal didn't go away, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning on a solo home run and an RBI triple to cut Fullerton's lead to 8-6.
Fullerton came back three runs in the home half of the third to extend its lead to 11-6. The Titans were once again given a free base to start the inning as Johnstone drew a walk to start the third. The freshman then recorded his first collegiate stolen base, the Titans first of the season, to get into scoring position.
With runners on first and second and one out, Kirchner stepped to the plate and delivered yet again for the Titans. The first-year transfer ripped a double to left center, bringing home Johnstone while advancing Rosales from first to third.
Kirchner, a transfer from Golden West College, had a great day at the plate in his first season as a Titan. The junior went 3-for-5 with a run and a tied for game-high four RBI.
Stanford then gave the Titans another freebie as Rosales came around to score on a passed ball, extending the lead to 10-6. Another first-year transfer, Isaiah Gomez, stepped in a big spot with an RBI single to center field to bring home Kirchner and make it an 11-6 game.
Sophomore pitcher Chad Gurnea gave the Titans their first scoreless inning of the game defensively in the fourth inning after working around a one-out single.
The Titans had all the momentum after taking an 11-6 lead and a scoreless frame from Gurnea, however, the bats went cold and the Cardinal continued to heat up.
Stanford scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning on a bases loaded walk followed by a bases clearing double by Rintaro Sasaki to cut Fullerton's lead to 11-10. Stanford went on to take a 13-11 lead in the sixth inning on a three-run home run. The Cardinal extended their lead to 14-11 on a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Fullerton was held scoreless after the third inning while recording just one hit.
Freshman Dylan Smith got the start for the Titans, making his collegiate debut, and went 2.1 innings while giving up six runs on seven hits. Fellow freshman Brady Dockan also made his Titan debut and pitched two shutout innings while allowing just one hit in two innings of work.
Dylan Goff drew the loss for Fullerton after giving up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Ryan Speshyock earned the win for Stanford, tossing 3.2 shutout innings in relief while Aidan Keenan closed out the game to earn the save.
The Titans look to finish off the four-game series against Stanford with a win Monday afternoon at Goodwin Field. First pitch for the series finale is set for 1:00 p.m.
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