Box Score (.pdf) | Press Conference | NCAA Starkville All Regional Team

STARKVILLE, Miss – The No. 21 Cal State Fullerton baseball team saw its season come to a close Sunday afternoon at the Starkville Regional at the hands of Louisiana Tech after the Titans dropped a 6-2 decision to the Bulldogs.

The Titans' end the 2016 season with a 36-23 record and a mark of 17-7 in the Big West Conference, while the Bulldogs improve to 42-19 overall and will play No. 4 Mississippi State tonight at 6:30 p.m. (CT).

Louisiana Tech took an early lead that it would never relinquish after scoring in four separate innings during the game. Cal State Fullerton put runners on in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but did not break through until the sixth when it plated a pair of runs courtesy of a Tanner Pinkston two-run single.

Titans' right-hander Connor Seabold (7-6) got the start and loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with a pair of walks and a base hit before being lifted for Scott Serigstad after pitching just 1.2 innings. Serigstad took the mound and walked the first batter he faced in Bryce Stark to bring in Brent Diaz who had reached on a base on balls to give LA Tech a 1-0 lead.

Louisiana Tech added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth as the Bulldogs scored a pair of runs. With one out, Jordan Washam was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a bunt single by Chandler Hall after catcher Chris Hudgins' throw to first went wide allowing Washam to score and Hall to advance to second.

With a runner at second and two outs, Stark singled to right to drive in Hall. However a heads up play by rightfielder Hank LoForte caught Stark trying to move to second for the final out of the inning.

Cal State Fullerton made a pitching change to start the bottom of the fifth as the Titans called for Brett Conine to replace Sergistad on the hill. The pitching change made little difference for the LA Tech offense as it tacked on another run on a double and an RBI-single to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

In the top of the sixth, Timmy Richards drew a walk and Dalton Blaser dropped a two-out single to rightfield to put runners at the corners for Pinkston. Pinkston worked the count full and drove a base hit to the right-centerfield gap plating both Richards and Blaser as the Titans cut the Bulldogs' lead in half (4-2). However, Pinkston was thrown out at second trying to stretch his single into a double as the inning came to a close and the Titans' rally was cut short.

After cutting the Bulldogs' lead in half, Louisiana Tech made a pitching change and brought in Nate Harris to relieve starting right-hander Cameron Linck (4-1). Harris did his job as he kept the Titans off the board for the remainder of the game.

Linck would earn the win after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out five batters against just one walk.

Louisiana Tech tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth after the Bulldogs put two runners on and scored on a single through the right side by Raphael Gladu to make it a 5-2 game.

With Stark now at third, Gladu broke for second and Hudgins faked a throw to second, but instead gunned down Stark who was leaving third on the anticipated throw down to second to end the threat and the inning.

Freshman right-hander Gavin Velasquez was called on to pitch and lasted 1.0+ innings before making way for Miles Chambers. Chambers, a junior righty, came in with a runner at first in the bottom of the eighth. The runner, who was credited to Velasquez, came around to score LA Tech's final run of the ballgame after a Cal State Fullerton error, followed by a pair of sacrifices which put the Bulldogs ahead of the Titans 6-2.

Down to their final three outs of the game, the Titans were unable to connect for a hit as they were retired in order by Harris who earned his fifth save of the year.

Cal State Fullerton recorded seven hits in the game, three of which came off the bat of Jake Pavletich who finished the game batting 3-for-4. Pinkston was 1-for-4 with two RBIs, while Richards was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Blaser was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Scott Hurst was also 1-for-4 in the game.

NCAA Starkville All-Regional Team

Most Outstanding Player: Brent Rooker, Mississippi State
C - Jack Kruger, Mississippi State
1B - Cody Daigle, Louisiana Tech
2B - Trevor Ezell, Southeast Missouri State
SS - Ryan Gridley, Mississippi State
3B - Jake Pavletich, Cal State Fullerton
DH - Brent Rooker, Mississippi State
OF - Reid Humphreys, Mississippi State
OF - Jake Mangum, Mississippi State
OF - J.D. Perry, Louisiana Tech
P - Zac Houston, Mississippi State
P - Phillip Diehl, Louisiana Tech