FULLERTON, Calif.--- It was a storybook ending to Senior Night at Goodwin Field, as seniors Timmy Richards, Taylor Bryant and Hunter Cullen led Fullerton to a 4-3 win over UCLA on Tuesday.
The action for the Titans (29-16) all started with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning in a scoreless ballgame. Scott Hurst drew a walk and then stole second before Sahid Valenzuela also earned a walk to knock UCLA starting pitcher Justin Hooper (1-1) out of the game. Then it was Richards who came through, reaching on an error after a hard hit ball to third base to score Hurst from second.
Bryant then roped a single to center to bring Valenzuela home from second base and make it a 2-0 Titan lead. Zach Weller then hit one through the left side for a base hit to bring home Bryant from second and extend the Fullerton advantage to 3-0 heading to the sixth.
The script kept writing itself in the sixth, as Cullen blasted a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence for a leadoff jack to make it 4-0 in favor of the Titans. It marked his team-best equaling fourth home run of the season and would go on to be the game-winning run, as the Bruins rallied for three in the eighth.
Stud Titan closer Brett Conine faced his toughest test of the season, as he surrendered four hits and gave up an earned run in 1.1 innings. While he didn't have his best stuff, he still managed to grinded out his 11th save of the season to clinch a big win for the Titans.
Senior Maxwell Gibbs started the game for the Titans, and tossed a shutout inning, recording one strikeout, while surrendering just one hit. The start marked his first of his career.
Gavin Velasquez (4-2) did a nice job for Fullerton, earning the win in relief, tossing 4.0 shutout innings of baseball.
Bryant led the way offensively, collecting two knocks while driving in one. Valenzuela picked up a hit and a run, while Cullen recorded a home run and Richards scored one.
Weller finished 1-of-2 from the plate with an RBI, while Daniel Cope chipped in with a double. Hurst walked twice and scored a run.
UCLA's (24-21) Hooper took the loss, as he went 4.2 innings, surrendered two hits, two runs and walked three.
The Titans will get back into Big West play this weekend, as they'll host a three-game set against UC Santa Barbara, beginning Friday at 6 pm PT.
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