Posted: May 21, 2017
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.--- Senior Timmy Richards equaled a season high with three hits and two runs scored, but it wasn't quite enough, as Cal State Fullerton dropped an 8-4 contest to CSUN, Sunday afternoon in the series finale.
Despite the loss, Fullerton (33-19, 14-7 Big West) still won its 11th series of the year, which is the most since the 2013 campaign.
Richards led the way for Titans, just a day after graduating, as he went 3-of-5 from the dish with two runs scored and an RBI. Sahid Valenzuela picked up his team-leading 20th multi hit game of the season, going 2-of-5 from the plate with a run scored. Dillon Persinger also produced a solid performance, as he went 2-of-4 with an RBI.
Hunter Cullen picked up a hit and drove in a run, while Chris Prescott scored a run and recorded a hit.
Colton Eastman looked good, as he made his second start since returning from injury. He went 3.1 innings and surrendered two hits while surrendering just one run and striking out five. He pitched on a 50-pitch pitch count.
CSUN's (26-29, 12-12 Big West) Samuel Myers (6-6) picked up the win, while Blake Workman (6-2) recorded the loss.
The Matadors struck first in this one, as William Colantono blasted two-out double down the right field line, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch, while Alvardo Rubalcaba then singled to right field to bring in the first run of the game.
However, Fullerton wasted no time tying things up, as Richards begin the fourth with a single to right field, while Persinger then reached on an error with one out to put runners at first and second. Then with two outs, Cullen sliced a ball down the right field line for an RBI single, bringing Richards in to score to tie the game at 1-1.
CSUN grabbed the lead back in the fifth, as Elias Orona recorded a one-out double to left center and then Colantono delivered a single up the middle to score a run and make it a 2-1 ballgame. Colananto eventually moved to third on a sacrifice fly and then came in to score on a wild pitch.
With the Titans already trailing 3-1, the Matadors broke things open in the sixth, putting up five runs on five hits, including a two-run Albee Weiss home run to left field to make it an 8-1 Matador advantage.
The Titans battled back in the seventh, as Fullerton responded with three runs on four consecutive two-out hits to get back in the ballgame.
Prescott began the rally with a one-out walk, then Valenzuela singled up the middle to put runners and the corners, before Richards launched his second double of the game two score one. Bryant then dropped an RBI bunt single down the left field line to score the second run of the frame. Persinger singled through the right side to bring home Richards and make it an 8-4 contest.
Drama ensued before the beginning of the eighth frame, as home plate umpire Bud Dunklin left the ballgame due to an apparent injury. The game was delayed by 35 minutes and the final two innings were umpired with a two-man crew with Kevin Daugherty shifting from first base to home plate.
Neither team scored in the final two frames to bring the final to 8-4. The loss eliminates the Titans from the Big West championship race.
Fullerton will close out the regular season with a three-game home series vs. rival Long Beach State, beginning Thursday at 6 pm PT.
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