SAN DIEGO – The Titans recorded new season highs in both runs and hits and they needed just about all of them, as a wild four-run ninth propelled Fullerton to a 13-9 victory over San Diego State, Saturday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
For Fullerton (17-16), the win evens up the series at 1-1, while the 13 runs scored and 18 hits both were season highs. Six Titans collected two or more hits in the game, while eight of nine Titan starters recorded hits.
Things were wild down the stretch, as the Aztecs (22-13) struck for four runs in the bottom of the eighth after trailing for most of the contest. The Titans had multiple chances to get out of the inning, but multiple fielding errors proved to be costly.
An emotional @mberryhill21 breaking down tonight's crazy win. He scored a career-high four runs tonight....@Chris_Pr8scott, @33jordy and @zachweisz showing the love too#TusksUp | #EverythingTogether pic.twitter.com/kBuIFJRHj6
— Titan Baseball (@BaseballTitans) April 15, 2018
However, as Titans do, the guys picked each other up.
With things tied at 9-9, drama began with the very first batter in Jacob Pavletich. Pavletich was plunked with a pitch to begin the frame, but he was called back to the plate after the umpire claimed he didn't try to get out of the way. However, Pavletich kept his composure and eventually sent a full count single through the right side to get the rally started.
.@jakepav23 set the tone for us in the 9th and he breaks down what happened.
— Titan Baseball (@BaseballTitans) April 15, 2018
3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI tonight #TusksUp | #EverythingTogether pic.twitter.com/oDEz2kkod2
Jairus Richards then followed with a rocket down the right field line to put runners at the corners. Jordan Hernandez was then plunked by a pitch to load up the bases. Brett Borgogno then hustled down the line and reached on a fielder's choice, while a perfect slide by Pavletich at home plate put the Titans up for good at 10-9, as he just got under the tag.
LoForte singled and Berryhill walked in the inning to put three more runs on the board to make it a 13-9 game. Brett Conine stayed in the game to earn the win. He pitched 1.2 innings without giving up an earned run.
Daniel Cope was unbelievable offensively, as he went 4-for-5 from the dish with four RBI. The four hits and four RBI were both career highs. Mitchell Berryhill produced a career-high equaling three hits and scored a career best four runs, while driving in one.
Pavletich also ripped three knocks to raise his season average to .306, while Borgogno came up with two hits, two runs scored, a run driven in and a double.
Tommy Wilson earned the start and went 5.0 innings while surrendering just two earned runs.
Thing couldn't have started off much better for the Titans, as they struck for three run on four hits and a walk in the top of the first.
LoForte got things started, shooting a rocket through the right side to lead off the game, marking his fifth hit of the series. Berryhill then drew a walk, followed by a Cardenas single to center to score LoForte. Cope then made it a 2-0 Titan advantage, roping a single to left to score Berryhill.
Then Pavletich came through with a one-out RBI single to left field to score Cardenas and put the Titans up 3-0.
However, the Titan lead didn't last long, as the Aztecs bounced back in the bottom of the first with four runs of their own on four hits to claim a 4-3 lead.
Fullerton wasn't fazed though and immediately responded with yet another three-spot in the second. Borgogno began things with a double to right field and then scored on a Berryhill single to center, tying things up at 4-4. Cardenas then tattooed a triple into the left field corner to easily score Berryhill. Cope then made it a 6-4 Titan advantage just one batter later, shooting a single back up the middle to score Cardenas from third base.
Overall the Titans had 10 hits through just three innings of play.
Fullerton got some insurance in the fourth, as Berryhill began things with a perfectly placed drag bunt and then ended up at third, as Cardenas reached on a fielding error. Cope then drove in the run, producing a sacrifice fly to deep center field to extend the Titan lead to 7-4.
The Titans added another run in the sixth, as Berryhill led things off with his third hit of the evening. Cope then followed suit with his third knock of the game to left field to put runners at the corners with just one away. Sahid Valenzuela picked up the RBI, producing a sacrifice fly to center to make it an 8-4 advantage.
SDSU tacked one on in its half of the sixth to make it an 8-5 game.
However, as they had done all night, the Titans responded right back with a run of their own in the eighth. Cardenas began the frame by reaching on an error and then stole second base. Cope then drove him in with his fourth hit of the night to push the lead back up to 9-5.
Titans go for their third consecutive series win tomorrow at 1 pm PT.
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