Titans Strand 12 Baserunners, Lose to California, 6-2

Cal State Fullerton had plenty of chances to beat California on Sunday, but did little with them and lost, 6-2, in a nonconference baseball game at Cal State Fullerton.

Fullerton had 15 hits off California pitcher Mark Juhas (2-4) over nine innings, but managed only two runs, one in the seventh and one in the ninth.

The Titans (14-12) had at least one baserunner in each inning and left two on in the second through the sixth. Fullerton stranded 12 baserunners for the game.

California (13-19) didn’t have as much trouble clearing the bases, thanks mostly to Mike Harrison. He had four hits, including two home runs, and five runs batted in. California had nine hits and stranded seven baserunners.

Harrison hit three home runs and had 10 RBIs during the weekend as California took two of the three games against Fullerton. He leads California with 10 home runs this season.

Harrison’s first home run Sunday was a three-run shot in the first inning off starter and loser Matt Watson (1-3).

Jason Evans hit a sacrifice fly and Harrison had an RBI single in the second to give California a 5-0 lead. After Harrison’s single, Watson was replaced by James Popoff, who allowed no runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Chris Robinson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits, including Harrison’s solo home run with two outs in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Fullerton was struggling to score.

Phil Nevin opened the first inning with a single, but was forced out when David Ayala grounded into a double play, one of three by California.

Fullerton’s most frustrating inning was the second. Rich Gonzales opened with a single and moved to third on Paul Bunch’s double.

Matt Hattabaugh then hit a grounder up the middle, but Juhas caught it as he fell down. He looked Gonzales back to third, and threw out Hattabaugh. Frank Charles hit a slow roller to Juhas for the second out, and Steve Sisco grounded out to third to end the inning.

Gonzales has reached base safely in all 26 Fullerton games this season. He has hits in 20 games and has been walked or hit by a pitch in the other six.

Bunch had an RBI triple in the seventh for Fullerton’s first run, and Gonzales grounded into a double play in the ninth to score Ayala with Fullerton’s second run.

In another nonconference baseball game:

Wisconsin 7, UC Irvine 4--The loss ended UC Irvine’s 13-game home winning streak. The Anteaters are 16-4 at home this season and 20-10 overall.

Wisconsin (3-16) got four consecutive singles in the fourth to score three runs and take a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to 7-2 by the ninth before Irvine rallied for two runs. Shelby Niss flied out to deep center with two on to end the game for Irvine.

Al Rodriguez had three hits and two RBIs, Chris Gallego had two hits, an RBI and scored a run, Jon Skaggs added two hits and two runs and Don Roberson had two hits for Irvine, which plays host to California today at 2 p.m.