Oregon Ducks Baseball: Ducks can't weather Titans in second meeting

After a paltry showing a night before, the Ducks were back in action against Cal State Fullerton. After a 24 minute rain delay part of the way through, the teams took the field again and ignited a pitcher's duel. Justin Garza pitched 8 innings of baseball striking out 4 for the Titans getting the win despite Fullerton not scoring until the ninth to win the game 3-2.

Early on, it looked like Fullerton was going to have their way with the Ducks once again as they put two on the board in the second inning. The Titans loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter before leadoff man Austin Diemer put a single through the middle to score a pair for the visitor.

Matt Krook had set a record earlier this season having thrown 7 wild pitches against Hawaii and it appeared as though he was going to continue having control issues as the Titans touched him for a pair.

However, after the delay Krook struck out 7 of the next 9 batters he faced before turning the ball over to the bullpen at the end of the sixth.

The Ducks even the score with a RBI single in the third and then executed a double steal to perfection to get Kyle Garlick across the plate to level the score at two. From that point, the bats would go silent for both teams until the final frame.

After the fourth inning, neither team allowed a base hit until the ninth inning. That's when the Titans broke through. A lead-off single chased Trent Paddon (L 0-1) off the mound and a sacrifice fly from xxx gave Fullerton the lead at 3-2. Garrett Cleavinger came on to strike out the remaining two batters, setting the stage for the bottom of the ninth.

The techno chicken signaled the need for an Oregon rally and Tyler Baumgartner responded with a single to lead off the inning. Mitchell Tolman bunted him successfully over to second but a ground out to short kept him there.

With the game in the balance and a runner on, Freshman A.J. Balta stepped to the plate and sent a deep shot to right field. The bullpen stood with their arms in the air, only to see the fly ball fall lazily into the Titans' right fielder's glove ending the game.

Fullerton takes the series with their 3-2 win today and Oregon will hope to scrap something out of the series tomorrow when they play the final of three tomorrow back at PK Park.