FULLERTON, Calif.--- Twelfth-ranked Fullerton strung together three runs on one hit, a walk, a hit by pitch and an error in the ninth to overcome a late two-run deficit and defeat UC Davis, 9-8 in dramatic fashion, Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
Sahid Valenzuela went 2-of-5 from the plate, but the most important play wasn't even one of his two knocks. The Yuma, Arizona native stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Titans trailing by one. He grounded a chopper to the shortstop, but an attempt at an game-ending 6-4-3 double play ended in disarray for the Aggies, as the second baseman's throw sailed wide of first, allowing both Ruben Cardenas and Daniel Cope to score and clinch the walk off win for the Titans.
The inning began with a JT McLellan walk followed by a Cope hit by pitch. Tristan Hildebrandt then laid down a sacrifice bunt down to move the runners to second and third with one out. Cardenas then doubled in McLellan to make it an 8-7 deficit. Scott Hurst walked and then the rest was history.
Overall Cardenas led the way for Fullerton (20-10, 4-1 Big West), going 3-of-4 from the plate with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI. In his first two games back from injury, Cardenas has gone 4-of-8 with two dingers, four runs scored and four runs batted in. Hurst stayed hot, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two RBI a run scored and a walk, including launching a game-tying home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth.
Timmy Richards went 2-of-5 at the dish with two doubles and a run scored to extend his on-base streak to 22 consecutive games and his hit streak to 12. Taylor Bryant was also 2-for-4 with a run driven in and a walk. Dillon Persinger went 2-of-4 with a run scored and a walk, making Fullerton's 1-5 hitters a combined 10-of-23 at the plate on the day.
The Titans have now won five in a row and a season-best 10 straight at home, while they've clinched eight consecutive Big West home opening series wins since 2009.The Titan offense has also blasted 12 home runs in its last 11 ballgames. Fullerton earned its first walk off win since May of last year.
UC Davis (9-15, 2-3 Big West) drew first blood in what would be a wild see-saw affair, as it put up a two-spot in the top of the first.
However, the Titans didn't wait long to respond, as Persinger led off the second with a walk and eventually stole second with one out. Chris Hudgins then doubled in the run, smacking one to the right field fence to bring Fullerton within 2-1. Then Cardenas launched his second home run in as many days to right field with two outs to score two and put the Titans in front 3-2.
The Aggies tied things up in the top of the third with a two out Alex Aguiar double to center, before the Titans got the run back in the bottom of the third after Bryant singled in Richards after he recorded a one out double to left center to make it 4-3 Fullerton lead.
In the fourth, UC Davis showed it came to fight, securing a three-spot in the from off of three hits and an error to go back on top, 6-4.
Hurst then drew the Titans even at 6-6, launching a two-run shot to right field with one out.
However, it was just one of those games for Fullerton, where nothing was going to come easy, as Davis jumped back in front in the seventh, despite Blake Workman striking out three straight batters. A dropped third strike should have ended the inning, but instead skipped to the backstop to score a run for the Aggies, putting Fullerton in a 7-6 hole.
Guillermo Salazar then added to the Aggies' lead in the ninth, as he crushed a one out solo shot to left center to make it an 8-6 deficit.
But that's why they play nine innings, as the Titans put together a wild frame in the ninth to pull off the improbable victory.
Workman (4-1) earned the win in relief for Fullerton, tossing the final 3.0 innings of the game, surrendering two earned runs on five hits and striking out four. UC Davis' Zach Stone (3-2) took the loss, throwing the final 2.2 innings and giving up two earned runs and walked four.
Fullerton now goes for its second series sweep of the season, as it'll take on UC Davis in the series finale tomorrow 1 pm PT out at Goodwin Field.
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