Cal State Fullerton baseball holds off UCI in 14th straight home win

Daily Titan

After a tough series loss to Cal Poly, No. 14 Cal State Fullerton baseball bounced back with a 5-3 victory over UC Irvine Friday night at Goodwin Field. It was the Titans’ 14th consecutive home win.
“I thought they played ok, saw a variety of pitchers from them,” said Titan Head Coach Rick Vanderhook. “I thought we put together a couple innings and got some runs, they tied it up and we came right back and answered back.”
The Titans struck early in the game, putting up two runs in the bottom of the second inning. With runners on second and third, junior catcher Chris Hudgins followed up with a two RBI single up the middle to drive in Bryant and Persinger to give the Titans an early 2-0 lead.
UCI starting pitcher Chris Vargas didn’t last long for the Anteaters, pitching just two innings while giving up four walks and two earned runs. UCI brought in Ryan Johnston in for relief in the third after Vargas walked the first batter of the inning.
Fullerton quickly took advantage of the reliever. Bryant drew his second walk of the game and one batter later Dillon Persinger hit a RBI single up the middle to score freshman Sahid Valenzuela from second base, extending the Titans’ lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third.
The Anteaters answered back in the fifth inning with two runs to cut their deficit to 3-2. With the bases loaded and two outs, shortstop Mikey Duarte hit a two RBI double to center field to score two runs for UCI.
The anteaters tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh on a RBI double to center field by Parker Coss to score Adam Alcantara from second base. It came down to a close call at home plate with Hurst trying to throw out the ...

Read More