WICHITA, Kan. – No. 9 Cal State Fullerton dropped their final non-conference series of the season as they fell to Wichita State, 4-2, Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
The Titans (14-10) had seven hits on the day but could only muster two runs against the Shockers (16-10) pitching staff. The Titans left six men on base and the Shockers defense turned in some great plays late to squash any chance of a Titans rally.
Greg Velazquez and Timmy Richards led the Titans offense as they each went 2-for-3 on the day. Velazquez had his fourth double of the season while Richards tallied a pair of singles. J.D. Davis went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six games and Tanner Pinkston hit his first career home run.
For the Shockers, Sam Tewes got his fourth win of the season after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings of work. He walked two and struck out one. Foster Vielock and Aaron Labrie combined to pitch three innings of scoreless relief with LaBrie earning his first save of the year.
With the game tied 2-2, the Shockers put together a rally in the sixth of Titans starter Grahamm Wiest. Dayne Parker led off with a walk and then came around to score the go-ahead run on Chase Simpson's second double of the game. Simpson advanced to third on a one-out infield single by Micah Green and then scored on an RBI groundout by Joe Haddox to give the Shockers the 4-2 lead.
Wiest would go five and 2/3 innings for the Titans on Sunday afternoon. He allowed four runs on 10 hits and was tagged with his third defeat of the year.
Pinkston got the Titans on the board first for the third straight game in the second inning as the sophomore lifted a 2-1 offering from Tewes to left center. With some help from the 29 mile-per-hour wind blowing toward left, the ball carried out and Pinkston gave the Titans the early 1-0 edge.
But the Shockers answered in their half of the second, plating two runs on four hits. Parker led off the frame with a triple off the top of the left-field wall and then tied the game on Chase Simpson's ensuing single. With one out, Green doubled to left center and the ball rolled to the wall, allowing Simpson to stroll in with the second run of the inning and give the Shockers the lead.
Simpson would finish the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Green was 2-for-3 with a double.
The Titans tied it in the third after Keegan Dale led off with a walk and Timmy Richards followed with a single over first base on a hit-and-run play, allowing Dale to advance to third. Austin Diemer grounded into a double play but Dale came in to score and make it 2-2.
Notes: The Titans are now 8-12 all-time against the Shockers… Davis made his first start at third base this season. He had four starts at the hot corner last season… David Olmedo-Barrera made his second start of the season as the designated hitter… The Titans defense turned three double plays on Sunday after having turned four in the previous 22 games.