FULLERTON, Calif. – In a hard-fought contest Friday night at Goodwin Field, Cal State Fullerton was unable to clinch the series against Long Beach State in game two, as it fell 2-1 in extra innings.
The Titans (34-20, 15-8 Big West) battled all game but gave up one run in the bottom of the 10th and was unable to answer in their half of the inning.
Despite the loss, Fullerton still has a chance to clinch its 12th series win of the season Saturday in the season finale.
Freshman Sahid Valenzuela continued his hot play at the plate, going 2-of-4 with singles in the first and eighth. Valenzuela boasts a .340 batting average which ranks second on the team and fifth in the Big West Conference. He also leads the team with 21 multi-hit performances.
Down one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Hunter Cullen stepped to the plate as the leadoff batter and blasted a solo shot over the right field wall to tie the game at 1-1 for Fullerton. The home run was Cullen's fifth of the season.
Fullerton has now hit 40 dingers this season with 26 of them coming in conference play.
Starter John Gavin gave the Titans a strong 5.1 innings pitched, giving up just four hits and one earned run while striking out five Long beach State batters.
Gavin gave up his only run to the Dirtbags on a full count with two outs to Jarren Duran who singled to center field to score David Banuelos in the top of the fifth.
Blake Workman came in for relief of Gavin in the sixth inning and gave Fullerton three innings while allowing just one hit and no earned runs while walking one batter.
The Titans look to clinch the series in the rubber game Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Goodwin Field.
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