Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Titans combined to score 24 runs in a two game doubleheader against UC Riverside to clinch the series Saturday at The Plex with an 11-8 win and a 13-5 victory.
Game One
The Titans took game one of the doubleheader in a high scoring affair with a final of 11-8. Fullerton started the game strong with a four run first inning, however the Highlanders came back to score two in the bottom of the first to get right back in the game.
The two teams went back and forth throughout the game as UC Riverside was able to tie the game in the fourth inning before taking the lead in the fifth. Fullerton came back to the lead in the sixth but once again the Highlanders were able to tie the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Fullerton was able to pull away in the eighth inning as they plated three runs on two hits. Kameron Guangorena got a leadoff single up the middle to get the inning going for Fullerton which Jairus Richards followed up with a walk. Guangorena and Richards were able to get into scoring positions as they both recorded stolen bases in the inning.
Jacob Pavletich then came up clutch for the Titans with a double down the left field line to score Guangorena and advance Richards to third base. Zach Lew then drew a walk to load the bases before Brett Borgogno earned a walk to score Richards. Hank LoForte grounded out to shortstop but was able to hit the ball hard enough that it scored Pavletich to extend the Titans lead.
Every Titan reached base at least two times and seven of the nine batters recorded a hit leading to 14 total hits. Guangorena had one of his best games as Titan, going 3-for-5 on the day with two runs and tied a career-high with three RBI. Isaiah Garcia also went 3-for-5 in game one with two runs.
AJ Curtis tied a career-high in the first game of the doubleheader as he recorded three RBI. Curtis has now recorded three RBI in back-to-back games. Richards continued his great senior season with a 2-for-3 day with two walks, two runs and a RBI.
Tanner Bibee didn't have his typical start as he pitched 4.1 innings giving up 10 hits and seven runs (five earned). However, Bibee got help from the bullpen as Timothy Josten came in and went four innings allowing just four hits and one run on his way to earning the win to move to 2-4 this season. Michael Weisberg recorded the final two outs of the game to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Game Two
Fullerton once again had a strong first inning in game two of the doubleheader, scoring five runs this time in the top half of the inning leading to the 13-5 win to clinch the series.
LoForte and Berryhill began the game with back-to-back four pitch walks before Garcia hit a single to load the bases. Guangorena then drew a walk to drive in LoForte and get the scoring going.
Curtis kept adding to his RBI total for the day as he reached on an infield single to the shortstop that scored Berryhill. The first-year transfer had another career game as he recorded a career-high five hits on six at-bats to go along with one RBI and two runs.
Richards carried his strong play from the first game into game two of the day has he followed Curtis with a to single to score Guangorena. Richards recorded two RBI and three runs in the two game Saturday.
The Titans scored in five of the nine innings while scoring multiple runs in four innings. Fullerton scored 13 runs on 16 hits from eight different players. Every Titan that had an at-bat recorded a hit.
Fullerton's pitching staff once again outdueled the Highlander pitchers. Dillon Brown started the game and went 2.1 innings, giving up four hits and three runs (two earned). Kyle Luckham had one of his best performances all season as he pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and just two runs (one earned) while striking out seven batters. Matthew Sanchez recorded the final two outs of the game both on strikeouts.
The Titans return to action Sunday afternoon looking for the series sweep since Long Beach State in March. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.
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