LONG BEACH, Calif.--- John Gavin has now tossed 17 straight innings of shutout baseball, after another fantastic start against Long Beach State on Sunday, but the Fullerton offense just couldn't muster anything up, as the Titans fell 1-0 in 10 innings out at Blair Field.
For Fullerton (15-8), the loss marks its first three-game losing streak of the season, while Titans now suffer just their third series sweep in school history at the hands of the Dirtbags and the first since 2002. Fullerton falls to 0-2 in extra innings this year and suffers just its second shutout of the season.
Gavin gave it everything he had a on Sunday, tossing 7.0 innings of shutout baseball, while scattering six hits, striking out six and walking just two.
Long Beach, California native, Timmy Richards picked up a double, extending his on-base streak to 15 straight games and his hit streak to five in his final game at Blair Field. Taylor Bryant, Dillon Persinger, Hunter Cullen and Tristan Hildebrandt also recorded hits. Hildebrandt was nearly crowned a hero, has he beat out a leadoff double to begin the 10th frame, but the Titans couldn't push him across.
In all, Fullerton left eight men on bass and turned the lone double play of the game.
The Titans had their chances to score runs, as Bryant began the second inning with a single to right center, followed by a Richards double to right center, but each of the next three Fullerton hitters were retired, as the Titans left three in scoring position.
Fullerton loaded the bases in the eighth, as Cullen smacked a one out double to left center. Persinger walked and then Valenzuela was hit by a pitch to load them up, but the next two Titans were retired to end the threat.
The Titans had one more golden opportunity in the top of the 10th, as Hildebrandt led off the frame with a double, but Cullen was then called out on batter's interference and then Persinger and Valenzuela each grounded out to end the frame.
Laine Huffman led off the bottom of the 10th with a single up the middle for LBSU. Matt Gimenez then sacrificed him to second base before Domenic Colacchio provided a walk off single up the middle to win the game.
The Titans will now turn their attention to UCLA, as they'll head up to Westwood to take on the Bruins, Tuesday at 6 pm PT out at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
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