No. 13 Cal State Fullerton Edges CSUN, 3-2

Friday, May 19

Northridge, CA

3:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

25-28, 11-11

#13 Cal State Fullerton

32-18, 13-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Cal State Fullerton	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	3	7	2
CSUN	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	2

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

No. 13 Cal State Fullerton Edges CSUN, 3-2

5/19/2017 6:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Baseball (25-28, 11-11 BWC) dropped its series opener to No. 13 Cal State Fullerton (32-18, 13-6), 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Matador Field. Earning a no-decision, Tei Vanderford tossed a pitching gem as he allowed two unearned runs on five hits over 7.1 innings for the Matadors. Albee Weiss finished with a team-high two hits along with a double while Fred Smith tripled and drove in a run. Taking a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, the Matadors were unable to halt a late Titan rally in their series-opening defeat.

"Today was really easy to get excited for," said Vanderford. "I was telling the guys earlier that I really wanted to get the win for the seniors because this is probably their last series. And I know how much winning means to guys like Will [Colantono] and Dylan [Alexander] who have put their heart and souls into this program. When I'm a senior, I would want the same thing."

Friday's game took the shape of a pitcher's duel with runs hard to come by. Vanderford faced off against Connor Seabold with each pitcher taking turns shutting out the opposition. The Big West leader in wins, Seabold hurled eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits to go along with seven strikeouts. Facing the nationally-ranked Titans, Vanderford matched Seabold pitch for pitch as he struck out five batters and worked his way through seven innings for the 10th time this season.

Seabold faced an early jam in the second inning after the first three Matador hitters reached base safely. Nolan Bumstead doubled to start the frame and Justin Toerner worked a walk. After Dylan Alexander laid down a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error allowed the senior to reach first base. Seabold was able to limit the damage by forcing Weiss to hit into a double play but a run scored on the play to put CSUN ahead 1-0.

The Matadors doubled their lead in the third inning as Alvaro Rubalcaba hit a one-out single and Fred Smith followed with a two-out RBI triple.

After the shaky start, Seabold righted the ship and kept CSUN off the scoreboard for the rest of the afternoon including stranding four base runners over his last four innings of work.

On the flip side, Vanderford frustrated the Titan batters from the outset. Vandeford retired the first seven batters of the game and did not allow a hit until the fourth inning.

Timmy Richards reached on Fullerton's first hit in the fourth and he would come around to score after a CSUN miscue. Following a Taylor Bryant lineout to right field, a quick throw back to first base sailed into the Fullerton dugout allowing Richards to advance to third base. Moments later, Dillon Persinger hit an RBI single to cut the CSUN lead in half.

After giving up his first hits of the game, Vanderford retired seven straight batters and took a lead into the late innings. Vanderford stranded two base runners in the seventh and picked up the first out of the eighth but another Matador error led to the tying run scoring.

On a one-out single from Scott Hurst, a misplayed ball in left field allowed Hurst to reach second base. Conner O'Neil entered the game and struck out Sahid Valenzuela for the second out. Moments later, Richards pulled a 1-0 pitch to third base but a tricky hop allowed the ball to scoot by Bumstead and into left field. Hurst scored on the play to square the game at 2-2.

The Titans would take the lead an inning later against O'Neil. Giving up a one-out walk to Persinger and a hit to Hank LaForte, O'Neil faced Hunter Cullen with runners at second and third base. With the CSUN infield playing in, Cullen drove in a run on a fielder's choice to second base. On the play, Rubalcaba delivered a quck throw home but Persinger slid in safely just before a tag could be applied.

Down to their final three outs, the Matadors threatened to even the game after singles from Alexander and Weiss started the inning. CSUN eventually loaded the bases with two outs but Fullerton closer Brett Conine retired Jake Spurlin to end the game.

"Baseball is such a game of inches and every run scored today was a matter of inches," said Vanderford. "We are right there with these guys. They are a great baseball team and they are nationally ranked. It says something about our team that we are right there with them. Any ball club could have won that game today. We will take that momentum and come back Saturday."

Vanderford completes his first season with the Matadors logging a team-high 98.0 innings on the season, matching the innings pitched by Kenny Rosenberg last season. Both Vanderford and Rosenberg are the only Matadors to pitch at least 98.0 innings in a single season since Craig Baker tossed 102.0 innings in 2006. Vanderford also finishes the season with a 5-4 record, a 3.77 ERA and 69 strikeouts.

The Matadors continue their series with the Titans on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.