FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton scored three runs in the fourth inning and the pitching made those runs hold up as the Titans defeated No. 5 Texas Tech 3-2 Saturday night at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (8-5) won their sixth consecutive game while the Red Raiders (10-3) lost consecutive games for the first time this season and dropped their first weekend series of the year.
Justin Garza was superb for Fullerton as he worked six innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five to earn his first victory of the season.
Senior Willie Kuhl pitched one and 2/3 innings of perfect relief, striking out two without allowing a base runner. Fellow senior Tyler Peitzmeier took the ball with two outs in the eighth and secured the win for the Titans, pitching the final one and 2/3 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three to earn his fifth save of the season in as many chances.
Josh Estill, David Olmedo-Barrera, Jake Jefferies, Scott Hurst and A.J. Kennedy each picked up a hit for the Titans on Saturday night with Hurst netting a pair of RBIs while Estill, Jefferies and Olmedo-Barrera each scored a run.
Ryan Moseley took his first loss of the year for the Red Raiders as the right-hander allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out one.
The Red Raiders jumped in front with a run in the third inning. Tim Proudfoot led off with a walk and stayed and then came around to score on a two-out triple to right field by Hunter Hargrove to give the visitors their first run of the series and a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, the Titans finally got to the Red Raiders starter as Estill led off the frame with a walk. Olmedo-Barrera and Jefferies each followed with singles to load the bases for Hurst. The freshman came through for Fullerton as he placed a single through the right side of the infield to plate two runs and put the Titans ahead 2-1. Fullerton would add another run on a double-play ball by A.J. Kennedy to put the Titans up 3-1.
That run proved pivotal as the Red Raiders trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Ryan Long, scoring Eric Gutierrez.
But the Titans pitching allowed just two hits for the rest of the game to secure the win for Fullerton.
The Titans will look for their second consecutive three-game weekend sweep on Sunday afternoon as they send freshman left-hander John Gavin to the hill to face off against Red Raiders lefty Dylan Dusek. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Prior to Sunday's game, the Titans will honor the 20th anniversary of the 1995 NCAA National Championship squad with a pregame ceremony as well as autograph sessions with members of the team throughout the game. Former Titans expected to be at the game include Ruben Hernandez, Tim Dixon, John Mitchell, Robert Matos, Ryan Jara, Brian Loyd, Tony Miranda, Mike Lamb, Jon Ward, Mark Chavez, Scott Hild, Nakia Hill, Mike Wright, DC Olsen, Sergio Brown, Tony Martinez and Joe Fraser.
Notes: The Titans are currently undefeated in games against teams ranked in the Baseball America Top-25 poll. In addition, they are 6-0 against teams ranked in any of the five major polls as they swept Baylor at Goodwin Field last weekend… Estill extended his hitting streak to seven games while Jefferies has hit safely in six straight. In addition, Jefferies has now reached base in 12 consecutive games to lead the team… Josh Vargas' streak of reaching base safely was snapped at 11 games on Saturday night.
