FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton erased an early deficit, and scored five unanswered runs in a 5-3 victory over the Alumni on Saturday at Goodwin Field.
With the game knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, J.D. Davis' second hit of the day, a double into left field, drove in Matt Chapman as the tie was finally broken. Davis then scored the Titans' fifth run as Michael Lorenzen dropped a RBI single into center field.
Freshman Justin Garza was credited with the win for the Titans after allowing just one while tossing the final five innings of the game. Garza struck out eight in his outing, allowing just four hits.
It was the Alumni offense that got rolling first as Titan starter Grahamm Wiest gave up two runs in the fourth. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Alumni as Sergio Pedroza drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly placed into center field. Josh Fellhauer then added a second sacrifice fly to score Dustin Garneau as the Alumni took a 2-0 advantage.
In the fifth with Garza on the hill, the Alumni added their third and final run as Garneau drove in Blake Davis with a single to center field.
Fullerton battled back with a three-run sixth inning with former Titan and 2012 Big West Pitcher of the Year Dylan Floro on the mound. Carlos Lopez led off the inning with a triple to left field and scored on an error. J.D. Davis then lined a RBI triple down the right field line and later scored courtesy of a Clay Williamson groundout.
Wiest ended his day allowing two runs on four hits and one error while striking out three in four innings.
The Alumni totaled eight hits and left eight runners stranded.
The Titans totaled seven hits as J.D. Davis led the club with a double and triple, while Lorenzen recorded two base knocks.
Alumni starter Eddie Delzer, the winning pitcher in the 1984 championship game, threw his first pitch blindfolded before loading the bases with two hit batters and a walk. He worked out of the jam with a pop up and 123 double play.
Cal State Fullerton's season opener is scheduled for Friday with a 7 p.m. first pitch against USC.