FRESNO, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton came out on the short end of their second longest game of the season, dropping a 2-1 non-conference decision to Fresno State Wednesday night at Beiden Field.
The Titans (18-17) dropped their sixth consecutive game, their longest losing streak since 1983. The Bulldogs (21-21) scored their second straight victory after dropping seven of their previous nine games.
Chris Mariscal's infield single in the bottom of the 16th inning secured the victory for the Bulldogs on a very close play. Mariscal hit the ball to the hole at short where Keegan Dale put forth a great effort to reach the ball and made the throw to first. Tanner Pinkston stretched as far as his 6-foot-6 frame would allow, but the first base umpire ruled the sophomore's foot came off the bag allowing Jesse Medrano to plate the game-winning run.
Mariscal finished the game 2-for-6 while Medrano was 2-for-2 after coming into the game in extra innings.
Both teams combined to use 11 pitchers on the night. Chad Hockin took the loss for the Titans, going three and 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed one run on three hits and issued two intentional walks.
Phil Bickford took his third no-decision as a starter for the Titans despite going six scoreless innings. He allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out six.
On offense, the Titans collected 10 hits on the night led by Austin Diemer and Pinkston, who each went 2-for-7. Every other Titans player collected one hit on the night except for J.D. Davis, who was 0-for-6 but did reach base with a walk.
After Bulldogs starter William Munro faced the minimum in the first three innings, the Titans finally got to the right hander in the fourth. Diemer and Pinkston had back-to-back singles and then Munro walked J.D. Davis on four pitches to load the bases with one out. Dale would open the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Diemer and give the Titans a 1-0 lead.
But the Titans rally came to an end as Fresno, Calif. native Niko Pacheco got his first career hit, lining a single to center field. Pinkston was waved around third to try and give the Titans a two-run lead but the first baseman was called out at home as the umpire ruled catcher Taylor Ward's tag came before Pinkston, who did not slide, touched the plate and the inning was over.
Munro went seven innings and allowed one run on six hits on his way to a no-decision. He walked two and struck out two.
The Titans held on to that one run lead until the bottom of the eighth, when Manny Argomaniz led off the frame with a home run to left field off Titans reliever Willie Kuhl to tie the game. It was Argomaniz's second homer of the year and the second Kuhl has allowed this season.
The Titans had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 13th when Taylor Bryant led off with a double. Clay Williamson attempted to lay a bunt down, but popped it up in between the mound and home plate. Reliever Casey Rodriguez then made a spectacular diving catch to erase Williamson and then threw to second base to double up Bryant. Diemer would follow with a double of his own to put another runner in scoring position but the Titans failed to bring him in.
The Titans will now return home for the first time since April 8 when they host Hawaii for a conference series beginning on Friday. Thomas Eshelman will get the start for the Titans while Hawaii will send out Matt Cooper.
Notes: Wednesday's game was the Titans first trip to Fresno since Mar. 19-21, 2004 when they took two of three games from the Bulldogs… The Titans suffered just their second loss of the season when they outhit an opponent… The Titans played their seventh extra-inning game and they are now 2-5… Pacheco and Vidales each recorded their first career hit in their second career start… The Titans remained winless this season when their opponent hits a home run. They are 0-5… Wednesday marked the longest game between the Titans and Bulldogs. They played 12 innings on April 5, 1992; a 7-6 win by the Bulldogs.