BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton opened Big West Conference play with a 5-3 victory at CSU Bakersfield Friday night. With the win the Titans improve to 5-8 on the year.
Another quality start by Mikiah Negrete kept the Titans within striking distance early in the game. Negrete gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings pitched. The southpaw struck out a season-high eight batters while not issuing a walk. Once again, it was Negrete's ability to get out of jams and leave runners stranded.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Titans came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. Following a leadoff double from Cameron Kim, Max Ortega came through with an RBI single to left field to drive in a run.
The Roadrunners retook the lead in the third inning, scoring one run to take a 2-1 advantage.
Both teams went scoreless for three innings before Paul Contreras blasted a solo home run off the top of the scoreboard in the left field to tie the game at 2-2. Contreras now has two home runs on the year.
Fullerton defense made a great play in the bottom of the inning to prevent a run from being scored to keep it a tie game. With a runner on first, Bakersfield lined a double to left field, but a perfect relay from Nick Miller to Kim to Ortega cut the runner down at the plate.
The Titans rallied with two outs in the eighth inning to score two runs and take a 4-2 lead. With Ty Thomas on first base thanks to a hit by pitch, Kim once again doubled to score Thomas before advancing to third on an error by the CSUB outfield.
Miller then reached on an error by the CSUB infield to score Kim from third base. Kim went 3-for-4 on the night with all three hits being doubles while scoring two runs and driving in one.
Fullerton added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run by Cam Burdick in his first game back since the season opener. After missing the last 11 games, Burdick went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Andrew Wright gave up one run in the bottom of the ninth inning but limited the damage and secured the win after facing bases loaded with one out. Wright earned the save, his third of the season.
In his homecoming to Bakersfield, Chris Hernandez earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year. Hernandez gave up two hits in one shutout inning while striking out one.
The Titans look to secure the series victory in game two Saturday at CSU Bakersfield. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
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