Box Score
STANFORD, Calif. – Behind 18 hits – 17 singles – on Saturday afternoon, Cal State Fullerton claimed a 6-1 win over Stanford at Sunken Diamond. The two teams will meet on Sunday afternoon with the Cardinal looking to salvage the series.
Freshman lefty Quinn Mathews made his first career start, going 4.1 innings with three strikeouts. He allowed solo runs in each of the first three innings, as Stanford trailed 3-0 after 2.5 innings.
The first inning set the tone, as the first four Titans' batters reached base to give Fullerton a 1-0 lead. Mathews would dig in, though, striking out the next batter before an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam.
Stanford looked as if it would respond in the home half, as freshman Brock Jones began the game with a bunt single, his first career hit. The Card were in business after Tim Tawa reached on an error to put runners at the corners with one out. However, a lineout on a hit-and-run attempt led to an inning-ending double play, thwarting the scoring chance.
Fullerton would get a two-out RBI single in each of the next two innings to extend the lead to 3-0, but Stanford responded in the bottom of the third, all with two outs. Jones walked and stole second before Nick Brueser doubled to right field to bring him home for Stanford's lone run of the game.
The Titans would add a run in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the eighth for the final score of 6-1. Jones and Brueser both reached base twice on Saturday, the latter compiling two hits.
The two teams are set to conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond set for 1:05 p.m.