LONG BEACH, Calif. - A botched rundown and a couple of defensive mistakes in the first inning doomed Cal State Fullerton as the Titans dropped the rubber match with Long Beach State, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Blair Field.
The Titans (11-11) allowed the Dirtbags (12-8) to score four runs in the first inning and it was more than enough for Long Beach State starting pitcher Chris Mathewson, who subdued Fullerton's offense for seven innings.
Mathewson picked up his second win of the season, going seven innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits. He walked three and struck out seven.
The wheels came off early for the Titans as the Dirtbags sent eight batters to the plate in the opening inning. After Garrett Hampson grounded out to short to lead off the inning, Zack Domingues walked and then advanced to third on a Zack Rivera double. Designated hitter Luke Rasmussen stepped up to the plate and that's when things went sideways for Fullerton.
Rasmussen hit a sharp comebacker back to the mound where John Gavin snagged it and then threw to third where Domingues was caught off the bag. A rundown ensued and catcher A.J. Kennedy ran Domingues back to third base, where Rivera was waiting. Domingues got back to third safely and Rivera bolted back to second, but Rasmussen was caught halfway between first and second. Kennedy elected to try and get Rasmussen but first baseman Josh Estill was off the bag. The throw sailed wide and into foul territory. Two runs scored and the Dirtbags had a quick 2-0 lead.
Rasmussen, who advanced to third on the play, scored on an RBI groundout by Alex Bishop to put the Dirtbags up 3-0.
More hijinks followed after Nico Maida got aboard with a two-out single and then stole second to get into scoring position. Jonathan Serven worked the count full against Gavin and then popped up between the mound and the plate. Maida came all the way around to score and make it 4-0.
It would be all the Dirtbags needed as the Titans managed just four hits on the afternoon, two of them by outfielder Tyler Stieb, who went 2-for-3 with a walk. David Olmedo-Barrera and Josh Vargas had a hit apiece to round out the Fullerton offense.
Gavin took the loss for the Titans as he went six innings and allowed five earned runs on six hits. He walked one and tied his career high with six strikeouts. After the first inning, Gavin allowed just one run on three hits and retired the last seven batters he faced.
The Titans only run came in the sixth inning after Olmedo-Barrera notched his third triple of the season on a booming shot to deep right-center field that bounced off the base of the wall. Dalton Blaser then hit a groundball to Hampson at short, but the sophomore booted the play and Olmedo-Barrera came in to score.
The Titans did have their chances including in the first inning when they got the first two batters of the game on base and then into scoring position on a wild pitch with one out, but they came up empty. Fullerton stranded eight runners on base on Sunday and left 35 runners on base overall in the three-game series.
Fullerton will continue the current eight-game road swing Tuesday with a trip to Nebraska for a two-game set.
Notes: Vargas made his first start at second base this season after making 16 starts in center field. He also extended his hitting streak to four games… Jake Jefferies did not play Sunday, marking the first game he has missed this season after starting in 21 straight… Jerrod Bravo was hit by a pitch and has now reached base in 12 straight games… The Titans and Dirtbags will meet again in conference beginning May 21 at Goodwin Field. It will be the final three-game series of the season for both teams.
