RIVERSIDE, Calif. – For the first time this season the Titans took the series opener, defeating UC Riverside 12-1 Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Titans improve to 8-13 on the year and 2-5 in Big West play.
Fullerton jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the second. Following a leadoff double from Max Ortega, Eli Lopez tripled to right field to get the Titans on the board.
With Lopez at third, Isaiah Gomez had a productive infield out to put the Titans up 2-0.
Cam Burdick reached on a fielding error before stealing second base to get into scoring position to keep the inning alive. Carter Johnstone made the Highlanders pay for the error, hitting an RBI single through the left side of the infield to extend the Titans lead to 3-0.
UC Riverside answered with one run in the bottom half of the second inning to cut Fullerton's lead to 3-1.
Fullerton immediately responded with three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-1 lead.
Maddox Latta led-off the inning with a walk before stealing second base. Latta has a team-high nine stolen bases this season. Andrew Kirchner switched spots with Latta, hitting a double to left field to bring home the senior from second base.
Matthew Bardowell followed suit, switching spots with Kirchner on a double off the wall in left field to extend the Titans lead to 5-1.
Lopez capped off the inning with his second RBI of the game, hitting a single through the middle of the infield to bring home Bardowell and put the Titans up 6-1.
Fullerton took a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Kirchner. The junior went 2-for-5 on the day with two runs and two RBI, extending his conference-leading RBI total to 33 this season.
The Titans added three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-1 lead. With runners on the corners, Johnstone hit a two-run single through the right side to score both runners. The freshman had another impressive day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run and a game-high three RBI.
Mikiah Negrete gave the Titans the start they needed, allowing just one run on six hits in 6.2 innings pitched while walking two and striking out a season-high nine batters. Negrete earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year.
Marcos Rosales and Paul Contreras put the finishing touches on the game with solo home runs in the ninth inning to put the Titans up 12-1.
Ryan Faulks and Grady Faris pitched the final 2.1 innings and didn't allow a base runner to close out the game.
The Titans are back at the Riverside Sports Complex Saturday for game two against the Highlanders. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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