FULLERTON, Calif. – With the game tied in the 16th inning, Deylan Pigford stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run home run to give the Titans a 6-3 walk-off victory Friday night over UC San Diego.
.@deylanpigford WALK OFF. GAME OVER. SEE YA! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/i3UqhGxQkc
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 8, 2021
Fullerton (19-21, 12-9) are now 5-0 in extra inning games and have outscored its opponents 9-1 after the ninth inning.
Cameron Repetti was lights out on the mound for the Titans. Repetti came into the game in the 10th inning and pitched five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out a career-high six batters. Gavin Kennedy earned his first collegiate win (1-0) after pitching the final two innings and giving up just one hit.
T14 | Calm and composed @RepettiCameron #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/QTwb3bWsEk
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 8, 2021
The Titans struck first, scoring one run in the bottom of the second inning on a RBI single by Cole Urman. Isaiah Garcia led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a throwing error by the UCSD third baseman. Urman then drove him in from second for his 18th RBI of the season.
UC San Diego responded in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Anthony Lucchetti, his third of the season, to tie the game at 1-1. The Tritons took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on a fielder's choice RBI from Everett Blake to bring home Paul Gozzo.
Fullerton knotted the game up in the bottom of the sixth on another RBI by Urman, his second of the game and 19th of the season. Urman laid down a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt to bring home Jason Brandow from third.
Along with his two RBI, Urman had a great play behind the plate in extra innings to help lead the Titans to victory. With the bases loaded and just one out for UCSD, Urman picked-off a runner at third base to help get the Titans out of the 14th inning without giving up a run.
M14 | @cole_urman nails the runner at 3B and the Titans keep the Tritons off the board in the 14th despite them having four guys reach the bases in the inning #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/RyFEb4Xiov
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 8, 2021
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Titans took the lead on a productive infield groundout by Caden Connor to score Josh Urps and put Fullerton up 3-2 late in the game. The Tritons tied the game in the top of the eighth on a solo home run by Jackson Kritsch, his second of the year.
Friday night ace, Tanner Bibee, gave up two earned runs on just three hits in 6.1 innings work while striking out four and walking three. Michael Weisberg came on in relief in the seventh inning and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out four batters.
Cameron Leonard got the nod on the mound for UC San Diego and pitched 6.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one. Aren Alvarez drew the loss (1-6) after giving up the walk-off home run to Pigford.
Fullerton and UC San Diego return to action Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Goodwin Field.