FULLERTON, Calif. - Junior shortstop Timmy Richards blasted a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to send Cal State Fullerton to its fifth straight victory, a 3-2 nonconference win over Maryland Friday night at Goodwin Field.
Richards smacked his third home run of the season off Terrapins (7-10) reliever Robert Galligan, who was in his fourth inning of relief against the Titans (11-6).
The Titans shortstop smashed the first pitch he saw in his fourth at-bat of the night into the netting overlooking left field to give Fullerton the victory. He finished the night 2-for-4.
Josh Vargas was 2-for-3 with a run scored; Chris Hudgins went 2-for-4 while Tyler Stieb and Tristan Hildebrandt each had a hit to lead the Fullerton offense.
Miles Chambers picked up the win for the Titans while Galligan took the loss, marking the first decision of the season for each pitcher.
Right handers Blake Quinn and Mike Shawaryn were the headliners coming into Friday's game and both were solid despite struggling a bit with their control. Quinn struck out eight over five innings of work, allowing just one hit and four walks. Shawaryn went six innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits. He walked four and struck out four.
The Titans broke a scoreless tie in the third inning. Vargas drew a one-out walk and then stole second base. Catcher Justin Morris' throw sailed wide and into the outfield, allowing Vargas to take third. After Richards walked, Tanner Pinkston lifted a deep fly ball to left field that allowed Vargas to score and the Titans took the 1-0 lead on the sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, the Titans added another run after Hildebrandt led off with an infield single and then stole second base. Vargas followed with a perfect bunt single down the third-base line to put runners on the corners and then Hildebrandt scored on a double play to make it 2-0 in favor of Fullerton.
In the eighth, the Terrapins got on the board after three straight hits to lead off the frame. Nick Dunn started it with an infield single to reach base for the 17th straight game. Nick Cieri followed with a single and then Marty Costes chopped a single through the left side to plate Dunn and make it 2-1 in favor of the Titans. They would load the bases after closer Chad Hockin walked Papio and then Maryland tied the score on a short nubber along the first-base line that allowed Costes to score.
The teams return to action Saturday night as Connor Seabold is set to face Taylor Bloom in a battle of right-handers. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Notes: Two of Richards' three homers have been leadoff home runs this season and two have also come on the very first pitch of the at bat, including Friday night's blast… Richards' walk-off home run was the first by a Titans player since Carlos Lopez hit one on May 19, 2013 against UC Irvine at Goodwin Field… Friday night marked the second walk-off victory for the Titans this season, the last coming on Feb. 27 against Indiana… Fullerton is now 2-2 overall against Maryland all-time.