Sixth Makes No Sense to Titans in 9-5 Loss

Cal State Fullerton, ranked third in the nation, squandered a four-run lead and lost to California, 9-5, in a nonconference baseball game Friday in Berkeley.

Brett Kay hit a two-run home run to help the Titans (8-6) move ahead, 4-0, after 5 1/2 innings. But California (8-12) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, all off Fullerton starter Adam Johnson (1-1).

David Weiner led off the sixth with a home run, and four consecutive singles and a run-scoring double by Rob Meyer highlighted the five-run inning for the Bears.

Cal scored four more runs in the seventh off Fullerton relievers Mike Nunez and Kirk Saarloos, with David Sark and Meyer, who each had three runs batted in, hitting two-run doubles to help the Bears move ahead, 9-4.

Jason Corapci hit a home run in the ninth for the Titans. The series continues today and concludes Sunday.

In nonconference baseball:

Chapman 9, William Peterson (N.J.) 2--Tony Serna had three hits--including a home run--scored three runs and drove in two and Brandon Maciel had two hits and two RBIs for the host Panthers (9-1).

In the Chapman Sun West softball tournament:

Chapman 19, Heidelberg (Ohio) 1 (5 innings, mercy)--Leadoff batter Amie Barnes went five for five, scored three runs and drove in two for Chapman (5-1), which scored 10 runs in the first.

Chapman 8, Susquehanna (Pa.) 0--Tiffany Hoskins pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out seven with no walks.

Molly Beckett had six RBIs and Heather Peters had five hits and six RBIs for the Panthers in the Panthers’ two games Friday.

Concordia 10, Kean (N.J.) 1 (5 innings, mercy)--Allison Maya had four RBIs and Dawn Davidson had three hits and scored two runs for Concordia (7-8).

In Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball:

USC 3, UC Irvine 0--Eli Fairfield had 20 kills and three blocks and Brook Billings had 17 kills for the visiting Trojans (19-4, 11-2), who won, 15-13, 15-5, 15-8. Ty Loomis had 16 kills for Irvine (7-12, 4-10). USC is ranked No. 4 in the nation.