Titans Rally in Ninth to Beat Texas

Cal State Fullerton rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to beat Texas, 18-14, in a nonconference baseball game Sunday in front of 5,184 at Austin, Tex.

It was the ninth consecutive victory for Cal State Fullerton (10-1), the sixth-ranked team in the nation by Baseball America.

It also was the first time Texas has been swept at home since Arizona State did it in 1988. Texas (6-3) is ranked ninth by Baseball America.

Cal State Fullerton’s Tony Miranda opened the ninth with a pinch-hit double and scored on a single by Dante Powell to tie the score, 14-14. Infield singles by Brian King and Jeff Ferguson loaded the bases and Jim Betzsold walked to force in a run and put the Titans ahead, 15-14.

Bret Hemphill’s sacrifice fly made it 16-14. The Titans went ahead, 17-14, on an error and D.C. Olsen had an RBI single to cap the scoring.

Ted Silva (2-0), who gave up three runs in the eighth as Texas took a 14-13 lead, pitched a perfect ninth for the victory.

Fullerton scored eight runs in the third to take a 10-2 lead. The Titans added two in the fourth for a 12-2 lead. Texas rallied for four each in the fourth and fifth and one in the sixth to cut the lead to 13-11.

Olsen had two hits and drove in four runs and Powell had three hits and three RBIs. Each had a double. King had two hits, scored three runs and drove in two.

Fullerton took advantage of five Texas errors to score nine unearned runs. Dan Ricabal started for Fullerton, but gave up 10 runs, six earned, on seven hits.

Cal State Fullerton will play host to a three-game series against Cal State Northridge starting at 7 p.m. Friday. They play at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.