FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton dropped its series finale to Stanford 11-9 Sunday afternoon in a wild game at Goodwin Field.
In a game that lasted more than four hours and featured 15 pitchers, a 40-minute rain delay, 16 walks, four home runs and four lead changes, the Titans (2-5) came up short despite getting nine hits including a four-hit performance from sophomore Josh Estill. But the Cardinal (3-4) countered with two players that tallied at least three hits, including a four-hit day by second baseman Jesse Kuet.
Estill went 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Dustin Vaught and Tyler Stieb each went 2-for-4 and David Olmedo-Barrera added a hit in two at-bats off the bench on Sunday, driving in a run.
Freshman John Gavin got the start and went five and 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in his first start at Goodwin Field. He got a no-decision.
For the Cardinal, Kuet led the way as he went 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and his first home run of the season. Jonny Locher was 3-for-4 with a home run while Quinn Brodey and Matt Winaker each tallied two hits as well.
The Titans led 2-1 going into the sixth inning and that's when the game went off the rails. The Cardinal scored four times thanks to a solo home run by Locher and then a three-run, pinch-hit home run by Winaker, his second round-tripper of the series.
The Titans responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating three runs to tie the score 5-5. In the seventh, Kuet hit a solo shot to lead off the frame and give the Cardinal a 6-5 lead. Not to be outdone, the Titans rallied to tie the game and load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
At that point, the weather came into play as rain poured down onto the field, causing a 40-minute rain delay. When play resumed, the Titans took the lead on a passed ball.
But Stanford took the lead for good in the eighth inning, scoring three times and then added two more insurance runs in the ninth to take an 11-7 lead.
The Titans mounted one final stand, loading the bases with nobody out but could only scratch out two runs in the frame and came up short.
The Titans will host NC Dinos Monday night in an exhibition game before hosting Baylor for a three-game series on the weekend.