STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Alex Dunlap's double started a three-run sixth inning for Stanford, but Fullerton held on for a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon. Despite the loss, Stanford claimed the series over No. 22 Cal State Fullerton, 2-1.
"Anytime you can win a series against a good team," head coach Mark Marquess said, "it is a good weekend. We had some solid pitching performances and we were good defensively. We obviously have some things to work on, but it was a good start."
The Titans plated three runs on four straight hits in the top of the second, but sophomore starter Andrew Summerville settled in and retired the next 10 batters. He pitched six innings and allowed four runs in his seventh career start.
Meanwhile, Cal State Fullerton starter Colton Eastman was perfect through the first five innings. But with one out in the sixth, the Cardinal was sparked by back-to-back pinch hits. Sophomore Beau Branton broke up perfection with an infield single to short and scored when junior Dunlap blasted one off the wall in left center.
Junior shortstop Tommy Edman, who made several highlight defensive plays on the day, used his bat to bring home Dunlap on a single up the middle. He later scored when Mikey Diekroeger reached on an error and Stanford was within 4-3 after six.
Stanford (2-1) threatened in the eighth with runners at first and second and two outs, but a ground out ended the inning.
Stanford hits the road for the first time this season with a matinee matchup at UC Davis on Monday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m., with junior Brett Hanewich taking the hill for the Cardinal.