DAVIS, Calif.Ā ā Cal State Fullerton battled back from an early deficit to defeat UC Davis 8-5 in game three, securing the series sweep. With the win the Titans improve to 23-20 on the year and 14-7 in Big West play.Ā
The Titans fell behind 3-0 early after giving up two runs in the first inning and one in the second. Brady Dockan did a good job limiting the damage in the first inning after UC Davis had bases loaded with no outs.Ā
Fullerton responded with a five-run third inning to take a 5-3 lead. Following two hit by pitches and a walk to load the bases with no outs, the Titans strung together four consecutive hits.Ā
Eli Lopez got the scoring started with a two-run double to bring home Niko Lombardi and Cam Burdick, bringing the Titans within one run. Lopez had an impressive day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.Ā
Andrew Kirchner followed with a two-run double of his own to score Carter Johnstone and Lopez while giving Fullerton a 4-3 lead. Kirchner extends his conference-leading RBI total to 55 on the year.Ā
Matthew Bardowell extended the Titans lead to 5-3 with an RBI single up the middle to bring home Kirchner from second base.Ā
In the fourth inning, Burdick single handedly scored a run to put the Titans up 6-3. Burdick hit a single to center field which he turned into a double after seeing second base uncovered. The redshirt freshman then stole third before advancing home on a throwing error by the UC Davis catcher.Ā
Derek Turner came on in relief for the Titans in the second and settled things down on the mound. Turner allowed just one unearned run on one hit in three innings pitched. The sophomore earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year.Ā
Fremont, Calif. native, Jayden Harper had a strong outing in relief in his return to Northern California, tossing two no-hit innings while allowing just one base runner on a walk.Ā
With one out in the seventh inning, Matthew Bardowell ripped a triple off the wall in right field. Maddox Latta followed with a double to right center field to bring home Bardowell and extend the Titans lead to 7-3.Ā
UC Davis answered with one run in the bottom half of the seventh and one in the eighth to cut Fullerton's lead to 7-5.Ā
The Titans scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single up the middle by Latta to bring home Lopez with two outs while extending the lead to 8-5. Latta went 3-for-4 on the day with two RBI and made several key plays at shortstop.Ā
Leading by three runs in the ninth, the Titans once again called on their closer Andrew Wright to close out the game. Wright got three quick outs to secure the series sweep and earn his ninth save of the season.Ā
The Titans are back in action Tuesday night at Angel Stadium against UC Irvine in a nonconference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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