STANFORD, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton dropped its NCAA Regional opener to Texas A&M Friday night at Sunken Diamond by a final score of 12-7.
Fullerton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Maddox Latta led-off the inning with a double before an error pushed him to third. With runners on the corners, Eli Lopez laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to bring home Latta and put the Titans up 1-0.
One batter later, Jack Haley ripped a double down the left field line to score Cole Urman from second and extend the Titans lead to 2-0. Following a single from Carter White, Zach Lew had a productive fielder's choice to score Haley and make it a 3-0 game.
Texas A&M quickly responded with five runs in the bottom half of the second inning to take the lead. The Aggies blew the game open with three runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 11-3.
Tyler Stultz had a rough start on the mound for the Titans, allowing seven earned runs on four hits in two innings pitched. Stultz struck out three while walking a career-high six batters.
Fullerton was plagued by walks all game, tying a season-high with 12. Of the 12 walks the Titans issued, seven of them came into score.
Jason Blood was a bright spot for the Titans out of the bullpen, allowing just one earned run on two hits in four innings of work while striking out a tied for career-high six batters.
As they have all season, the Titans fought until the very end to get back in the game. Fullerton scored one run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Caden Connor, and three runs in the eighth to pull within four runs.
The Titans got the offense going in the eighth inning with three consecutive one-out singles by Cole Urman, Colby Wallace and Brendan Bobo. A throwing error by Texas A&M on Bobo's base hit allowed Urman to score and make it an 11-5 game.
With one out and the bases loaded, White had unfortunate luck as he smoked a line drive up the middle that was caught by the pitcher for the second out.
Lew came through for the Titans with a two-run single through the left side of the infield to bring the Titans within four, 11-7. Caden Connor stepped to the plate and launched a ball to right center field that was caught at the wall to end the inning.
Texas A&M got a run back in the bottom half of the eighth inning to extend its lead to 12-7.
The Titans will face San Jose State Saturday afternoon in an elimination game at Sunken Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT.
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