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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior leftfielder Josh Vargas accounted for the Titans' only run of the ballgame as No. 21 Cal State Fullerton dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 4 Mississippi State Saturday night.
With the loss, the Titans fall to 36-22 on the year and will face Louisiana Tech on Sunday, June 5 in an elimination game. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m. (PT).
The Bulldogs improve to 43-16-1 on the season and will face the winner of the Cal State Fullerton-LA Tech game at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, June 5.
Cal State Fullerton starting pitcher Colton Eastman (8-3) suffered the loss after tossing 6.2 innings of work and allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and never issued a walk. Eastman did a solid job on the mound allowing just one run until top of the seventh inning.
Mississippi State struck first in the game as the Bulldogs used a base hit and double to put runners in scoring position for Nathaniel Lowe who recorded an RBI-ground out and drove in the game's first run.
With a 1-0 lead and two outs and a runner at third, Eastman got Gavin Collins to fly out to right field and end the threat and the inning.
Cal State Fullerton threatened several times in the game and managed to get a runner to third in the sixth inning. In that frame, the Titans got a leadoff double from Scott Hurst and a sac bunt moved him to third. Hurst was going on the pitch to Chris Hudgins, but was thrown out on a fielder's choice at the plate for the second out of the inning.
The Bulldogs tallied a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on a double, two singles and a wild pitch to extend their lead to three (3-0).
Brent Rooker led off the frame with a double to the right-centerfield gap and came around to score on a single back up the middle by Reid Humphreys. The base hit went just past a diving Timmy Richards at short and put a runner at first with one out and gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
MSU plated its third run of the game on a two-out single to right off the bat of Jake Mangum which scored Humphreys, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Titan right fielder Ruben Cardenas fielded the ball well and fired home, but was unable to catch Humphreys who was called safe at the plate.
The Titans opted for a pitching change and brought in junior righty Chad Hockin to relieve Eastman. Hockin would pitch 1.1 innings and allow one run on one hit, while recording one strike out before giving way to junior left-hander Maxwell Gibbs who pitched 1.0 inning in relief. He issued just one walk and faced four batters.
Mississippi State starter Austin Sexton (8-3) did a good job on the hill as he kept the Titans scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when Vargas belted a home run to right field. The solo shot marked the third round-tripper of the season for the senior and cut the Bulldogs' lead to two (3-1).
Following the Vargas homer, MSU made a pitching change and brought in junior right-hander Blake Smith who pitched the final 2.2 innings of the game. Smith allowed three base runners – one on a hit by pitch and two on walks – but still managed to keep the Titans off the board as he registered his fifth save of the year.
The Titans put runners on base in every inning with the exception of the fourth, but were unable to capitalize as they stranded 11 runners on base.
Vargas was the only Titan to record a multi-hit game as he finished the game 2-for-5 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI. Richards was 1-for-3 with a walk, while Blaser was 1-for-4 and Hurst was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base.
