NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton scored in each of the final three innings to rally past CSUN 5-3 Friday afternoon in the Big West Conference opener at Matador Field.
The Titans (13-12, 1-0) scored three times in the seventh inning and added a run apiece in the eighth and ninth innings. Fullerton had 11 hits, eight of them going for extra bases against four Matadors (19-7, 0-1) pitchers.
David Olmedo-Barrera went 2-for-5 with a triple and an RBI and extended his hitting streak to five games. Josh Vargas was 2-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI to lead the Titans offense.
Right-hander Thomas Eshelman picked up his third victory of the season, going eight innings and allowing two earned runs on nine hits. He struck out five. Tyler Peitzemeier picked up his ninth save in as many chances, striking out the side despite giving up an earned run on two hits.
For the Matadors, first baseman Albee Weiss supplied the offense as he went 3-for-4 and drove in all three runs for CSUN.
After being unable to get on the board in the first six innings of the game, the Titans bats woke up in the seventh inning to turn a 2-0 deficit into a one run lead. Vargas led off the frame with a double to left field and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Tanner Pinkston then stepped in and hammered a double of his own to right field to score Vargas and trim the Matadors lead to 2-1. That put an end to Matadors' starter Calvin Copping's day as CSUN went to the bullpen for reliever Conner O'Neil.
Olmedo-Barrera greeted O'Neil with a triple to tie the score at 2-2. It was Olmedo-Barrera's fifth triple of the season. Tyler Stieb then capped off the Titans three-run seventh with an RBI groundout to short.
The Titans added some insurance in the eighth after A.J. Kennedy led off the inning with a double to center and then scored on a single up the middle by Josh Vargas. Josh Estill then blasted his fourth home run of the season in the ninth inning to make it 5-2 in favor of Fullerton and that was more than enough for the Titans to earn the victory.
The teams will meet again for the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon with the Titans sending Justin Garza to the mound while the Matadors will counter with left-hander Jerry Keel. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Notes: The Titans eight extra-base hits are the most for the team in a single game this season… Fullerton hit a home run for the second straight game and also picked up the victory for the second consecutive time this season. The Titans are now 2-5 when hitting a home run in a game… Tyler Stieb went 1-for-5 with a double to extend his hitting streak to five games… Olmedo-Barrera has reached base in 10 consecutive games.
