RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Fullerton split the doubleheader with UC Riverside Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Titans took game one 18-6 before losing game two 7-5 on a walk-off home run.
Game 1
Cal State Fullerton (8-13, 4-3) completely dominated UC Riverside (4-11, 2-5) in game one of the doubleheader, outscoring the Highlanders 18-6. The Titans 18 runs on 24 hits are both a season-high.
It is the most runs Fullerton has scored in a single game since May 14, 2016 when the Titans faced UC Santa Barbara (18) and it is the most hits in a game since May 2, 2015 against UC Riverside (25).
Caden Connor hasn't cooled off one bit as he went 5-for-7 at the plate with four RBI, both of which are a career-high. Connor is the first Titan to record five hits in a game since Scott Hurst did it against CSUN in May of 2017. In addition, his four RBI is the first since Mitchell Berryhill in March, 2019 against USC.
Riverside jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in the first inning. However, the Titans scored one run in the second, third and fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Highlanders came back to score three runs in the fourth and take the lead back.
The Titans turned it on in the fifth inning, scoring five runs to blow the game open. Fullerton would go on to score five runs in the eighth and ninth inning.
Kyle Luckham started the game for Fullerton and pitched seven innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out three. Luckham improved to 2-4 this season with the win.
The entire lineup for the Titans was producing, all but three players recorded an RBI and all but one player in the starting lineup recorded an RBI.
Jake Harvey showed why he was missed in the Titans lineup as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and three runs while adding three walks. Fellow first-year transfer Deylan Pigford was just as impressive, going 3-for-4 with a career-high four runs and an RBI on a solo home run, his second of the season.
Jason Brandow, Isaiah Garcia and Austin Schell all came into the game as pinch hitters and produced runs for the Titans. Bradnow went 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI while Garcia and Schell both went 1-for-1 with a run and two RBI.
Game 2
The Titans battled back after giving up four runs in the first inning to have a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and two on, Riverside's Ethan Payne hit a walk-off home run to give the Highlanders the 7-5 victory.
Trailing 4-0 in the top of the second, Cole Urman started off the inning with a walk before Deylan Pigford hit a double to right field to bring Urman home and put the Titans on the board. Pigford then got around the bases himself, advancing to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another wild pitch.
The first-year transfer did it again for the Titans in the top of the fourth inning, bringing home Brendan Bobo on a deep sacrifice fly. Bobo led off the inning with a double to center field before moving to third on a sac bunt by Urman.
Fullerton tied the game in the eighth inning on a perfectly run double steal. Urman stole second to draw the throw to second while Brandow stole home and was able to beat the throw home to tie the game at 4-4.
Two batters later, Carter White singled through the right side to drive in Urman and give the Titans a 5-4 lead. White 2-for-4 with a RBI in game two of the doubleheader.
Cal State Fullerton returns to the Riverside Sports Complex Sunday afternoon for the fourth and final game of the series against UC Riverside looking to earn the series win. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. PT.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the baseball team has established its own Twitter (FullertonBSB) and Instagram accounts (fullertonbsb).