FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton overcame a three-run deficit, scoring six runs in the eighth inning to defeat UC Irvine 8-6 and sweep the weekend series. With the win the Titans improve to 10-9 and 5-1 in Big West play.Â
The Titans swept UC Irvine for the first time since 2018 and are now riding a five-game winning streak.Â
UCI attempted to flip the script on the Titans, taking an early 4-0 lead after scoring four runs in the top of the third inning.Â
Fullerton slowly chipped away to get back in the game, scoring one run in the fifth inning on an Eli Lopez RBI single to score Niko Lombardi to cut the deficit to 4-1.Â
The Titans added another run in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Nick Miller off the clubhouse in left field to pull within two runs, 4-2.Â
The seventh inning looked promising after a leadoff double by Cam Burdick. However, Burdick was thrown out stealing third to end the threat.Â
UC Irvine quickly capitalized, scoring one run in the top of the eighth inning to extend its lead to 5-2.Â
The Titans didn't hang their heads and went to work right away in the home half of the inning with back-to-back singles by Ty Thomas and Paul Contreras. Max Ortega quietly had one of the key at-bats of the inning. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Ortega worked a walk to load the bases with no outs.Â
Miller then came through once again, this time with a two-run single through the left side of the infield to make it a one-run game, 5-4. The senior had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Miller is now second on the team with a .317 batting average.Â
After a pitching change for UC Irvine, Andrew Kirchner drew a seven pitch walk to load the bases once again with no outs. Kirchner went 1-for-1 with a run and tied a career-high with three walks.Â
In a 2-2 count, Lombardi got the job done with a productive infield out to score pinch-runner Hunter Meyer and tie the game at 5-5.Â
Burdick then delivered a two-run triple on a ball to the warning track in right center field to give Fullerton its first lead of the game, 7-5. Lopez followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Burdick and extend the lead to 8-5.Â
UC Irvine scored one run in the top of the ninth inning before Andrew Wright closed out the game for the series sweep. Wright earned the win to improve to 2-1 after pitching the final inning and a third.Â
Bobby Mahoney was the unsung hero of the game, pitching three and two-thirds no-hit innings after falling behind 4-0 to keep Fullerton within striking distance.Â
The Titans hit the road this week for a midweek game at UNLV Tuesday before returning home for a three-game Big West series against CSUN beginning Friday night.
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