LUBBOCK, Texas - Cal State Fullerton overcame a two-run deficit to tie the game but Texas Tech scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to hand the Titans a 6-5 nonconference loss Saturday afternoon at Rip Griffin Park.
Red Raiders (8-4) catcher Tyler Floyd belted a double in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner on second and two outs to break a 5-5. The Titans (5-4) put the tying run on base in the ninth but Robert Dugger struck out Tanner Pinkston with Tyler Stieb on third base to end the game.
Pinkston was one of two players to post a three-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Timmy Richards also went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to go along with an RBI and a double. The Titans pounded out 12 hits in the game including two doubles and also stole four bases as a team.
Dalton Blaser had his second straight two-hit game of the series and scored a run while Stieb went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Titans got on the scoreboard first for the second straight game, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Richards and Blaser singled to lead off the frame and put runners on the corners with no outs. Scott Hurst grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, allowing Richards to score and put Fullerton ahead early.
The Red Raiders responded in their half of the second. Tanner Gardner was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Tyler Neslony struck out but then Fullerton starter John Gavin fell behind in the count, 3-1, to Eric Gutierrez. The Red Raiders first baseman then launched the next pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run to give Texas Tech its first lead of the series. Ryan Long followed with a walk and Michael Davis doubled to left-center past a diving Stieb to plate Long and put the Red Raiders up 3-1.
In the fourth, Pinkston led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Richards stepped in and hammered a double over Gardner in center field and to the wall, plating Pinkston easily to make it 3-2.
The Red Raiders got the run back in their half of the fourth on an RBI single by Tyler Floyd before the Titans scored a run in the fifth on a two-out double by Pinkston.
Once again, the Red Raiders got the run back in their half of the fifth on an infield single that went off the glove of pitcher Connor Seabold with runners at the corners, allowing Orlando Garcia to score and put Texas Tech up 5-3.
The pattern continued in the sixth as the Titans got the first two men on base after Richards and Blaser singled to lead off the inning. Hurst sacrificed them into scoring position but Tristan Hildebrandt struck out looking for the second out. Stieb stepped up and laced the first pitch he saw from Davis Martin into right field for a two-run single to tie the game, 5-5.
Connor Seabold took the loss for the Titans, allowing two earned runs on three hits in four innings of relief. He walked two and struck out three.
The teams return to the field for the rubber match of the series with freshman Colton Eastman going for his third straight win for the Titans while the Red Raiders send out lefty Ty Damron. First pitch is scheduled for noon CT (10 a.m. PT) and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Prime Ticket. Check your local listings for the channel in your area.