FULLERTON, Calif. – Trailing by one run in the bottom of the 10th inning, Brendan Bobo launched a two-run home run to right field to give the Titans a 12-11 walk-off victory over Hawai'i Sunday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
WALKOFF B��B�� B��MB#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/VxF8yBPaJZ
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 3, 2023
With the win the Titans improve to 14-9 on the year and 7-2 in Big West play to leave them tied for second in the conference with UC San Diego, behind UC Santa Barbara at 5-1. The Titans have now won five-consecutive weekend series for the first time since 2018.
Fullerton entered the seventh inning trailing 10-8 before Caden Connor hit an RBI double with two outs to right center field to bring home Maddox Latta and make it a one score game, 10-9.
Never out of it with these bats#TusksUp | @Caden_Connor77 pic.twitter.com/6zDPa55cww
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 2, 2023
Freshman Max Ortega came in as a pinch-hitter to leadoff the ninth inning and reached second base on a throwing error by the pitcher. Two batters later, Carter White hit a single to left field to put runners on first and third with one out. Nate Nakil then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Ortega and tie the game at 10-10 and force extra innings.
Tie game! Nankil hits a sac fly to tie the game at 10-10.#TusksUp | @nankils619 pic.twitter.com/Eu01NHD95e
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 2, 2023
On the first pitch in the top of the 10th inning Kyson Donahue hit a solo home run to right field to put Hawai'i up 11-10. Dallas Duarte hit a one-out double to left field, however, Jojo Ingrassia locked in and got two quick outs to leave the runner stranded and limit the damage.
Moises Guzman led-off the bottom of the 10th inning with a single up the middle to give the Titans life. With a 2-2 count, Bobo ripped the walk-off home run to give Fullerton the victory.
The two teams exchanged blows all game like a heavyweight prize fight. Hawai'i jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning before the Titans immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs to take the lead.
Latta led-off the bottom of the third with a single to center field. With one out, Nankil blasted his third home run of the season to get the Titans on the board.
This dude is the real deal ��#TusksUp | @nankils619 pic.twitter.com/TIOLt9l216
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 2, 2023
Nankil had a stellar game, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and four RBI. The San Diego native has been on a tear in nine conference games this season, hitting .450 with nine runs and 18 RBI to go along with five walks and all three of his home runs this season. On the year, Nankil is hitting .320 with 19 runs and a team-high 24 RBI.
The Titans would go on to score two more runs in the third inning, all with two outs. First on a wild pitch that brought in Connor home followed by an RBI single by Jack Haley that scored Zach Lew from third to give Fullerton a 5-3 lead.
Titans take a 5-3 lead thanks to @jackhaley25! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/xt6h401MF9
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 2, 2023
Hawai'i answered with two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run home run and four runs in the fifth to take a 9-5 lead.
Fullerton quickly responded with three runs in the home half of the fifth inning to make it a one-score contest, 9-8, all once again with two outs on the board.
With runners on second and third, White doubled to drive in Bobo and Cole Urman. One batter later, Nankil singled through the middle of the infield to score White from second base.
Carter White, doing Carter White things. #TusksUp | @carter__white pic.twitter.com/UKTzwbPFNs
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 2, 2023
White had another unbelievable day at the plate for the Titans, going 4-for-5 with a run and two RBI. White leads The Big West with a .431 batting average and a .512 on-base percentage.
Ingrassia earned the win for Cal State Fullerton after allowing just one earned run on four hits in three innings of work while walking one and striking out four batters. Ingrassia is now 3-0 on the year.
Connor Harrison drew the loss for Hawai'i to drop to 0-3 after giving up the walk-off home run in the 10th inning. Harrison gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits in three innings pitched.
The Titans look to carry their momentum into next weekend's series against conference-leading UC Santa Barbara. The three-game series begins Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. at Goodwin Field.
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