COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Cal State Fullerton committed four errors and allowed three unearned runs in a 9-5 loss at No. 24 Maryland Saturday afternoon at Shipley Field in Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
Dustin Vaught, Josh Vargas and Tristan Hildebrandt led the Titans (19-18) with two hits apiece and Justin Garza went five and 2/3 innings against the Terrapins (27-10), giving up six runs, three earned, on seven hits. He walked one and matched his season high with seven strikeouts.
Things got off to a scary start as Vaught lined the second pitch he saw from Maryland starter Tayler Stiles right back to Stiles. The ball struck the left-handed pitcher in the face and allowed Vaught to reach safely. Stiles went down and stayed down for an extended period of time before he was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher, although he was conscious.
After a 23-minute delay, play resumed with new pitcher Robert Galligan and Vargas laid down a bunt single to put the first two runners on for the Titans. A flyout to right field allowed Vaught to advance to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Jefferies to put Fullerton up 1-0.
But the lead was short-lived as the Terrapins scored three times in their half of the first thanks to two hits, a hit batter and a pair of defensive miscues by the Titans. Brandon Lowe led off the frame with a double and then Kevin Smith was hit by a pitch. Catcher Kevin Martir cashed in the tying run with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a throwing error by Scott Hurst. The Terrapins took a 2-1 lead after Jose Cuas reached on an error by Vaught, allowing Smith to score. Anthony Papio then loaded the bases as his bunt was fielded by A.J. Kennedy, who tried to get the out at second, but his throw was high and the bases were loaded. Garza induced a double-play from Jamal Wade to erase two of the base runners but another run scored to make it 3-1.
The Titans cut into that deficit in the third after Vaught led off with a double, advanced to third on a flyout and then scored on an RBI groundout by Josh Estill to make it 3-2.
Maryland got that run back in the bottom of the inning as Smith led off with a single and then scored on a double down the right-field line by Martir to make it 4-2 in favor of the Terrapins.
Another Titans error in the sixth inning helped Maryland put the game out of reach. With one out, Jamal Wade walked and then Kengo Kawahara singled to put two aboard. Justin Morris then hit a grounder that was misplayed and the bases were loaded on the error. Garza got Zach Jancarski to ground into a fielder's choice, getting the lead runner at home for the second out. But Lowe came through with a single to center to drive in to and put Maryland up 6-2.
Galligan picked up the win for the Terrapins as he allowed one run on six hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out six.
The Terrapins would add three more runs before the Titans tried to mount one last stand in the ninth. Tyler Stieb led off the frame with a single to extend his hitting streak to eight games. One out later, Tristan Hildebrandt followed with a double to right and then Vaught was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Vargas stepped in and doubled to right-center to bring in a run but Hildebrandt was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Tanner Pinkston then reached on an error by Lowe at second and two runs came in to score to make it 9-5, but Willie Rios got Jefferies to ground to short to end the game.
The Titans will look to avoid the sweep Sunday as John Gavin will get the start on the mound for the Titans. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
Notes: The Titans are now 1-6 against teams from the Big 10 Conference this season… Fullerton has committed seven errors and allowed five unearned runs in the first two games of the series… The game featured eight extra-base hits including seven doubles and one home run by Terrapins' right fielder Anthony Papio.
