\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. \u2013 Cal State Fullerton opened Big West Conference play with a 5-3 victory at CSU Bakersfield Friday night. With the win the Titans improve to 5-8 on the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another quality start by Mikiah Negrete<\/a> kept the Titans within striking distance early in the game. Negrete gave up two runs on eight hits in six innings pitched. The southpaw struck out a season-high eight batters while not issuing a walk. Once again, it was Negrete’s ability to get out of jams and leave runners stranded.\u00a0<\/p>\n After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Titans came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the second inning. Following a leadoff double from Cameron Kim<\/a>, Max Ortega<\/a> came through with an RBI single to left field to drive in a run.\u00a0<\/p>\n Max ties it up!#TusksUp<\/a> | @_MaxOrtega_<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/glxOlvSXuR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The Roadrunners retook the lead in the third inning, scoring one run to take a 2-1 advantage.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both teams went scoreless for three innings before Paul Contreras<\/a> blasted a solo home run off the top of the scoreboard in the left field to tie the game at 2-2. Contreras now has two home runs on the year.<\/p>\n That one is way gone ??#TusksUp<\/a> | @ContrerasPaulie<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/cGveERj9Za<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Fullerton defense made a great play in the bottom of the inning to prevent a run from being scored to keep it a tie game. With a runner on first, Bakersfield lined a double to left field, but a perfect relay from Nick Miller<\/a> to Kim to Ortega cut the runner down at the plate.<\/p>\n What a relay!#TusksUp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZV5hODEBGx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The Titans rallied with two outs in the eighth inning to score two runs and take a 4-2 lead. With Ty Thomas<\/a> on first base thanks to a hit by pitch, Kim once again doubled to score Thomas before advancing to third on an error by the CSUB outfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n Titans take the lead!#TusksUp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/TI8ae42VCT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Miller then reached on an error by the CSUB infield to score Kim from third base. Kim went 3-for-4 on the night with all three hits being doubles while scoring two runs and driving in one.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fullerton added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run by Cam Burdick<\/a> in his first game back since the season opener. After missing the last 11 games, Burdick went 2-for-4 at the plate.\u00a0<\/p>\n Welcome back Burdy ??#TusksUp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xdjW8kHlRt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 7, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Andrew Wright<\/a> gave up one run in the bottom of the ninth inning but limited the damage and secured the win after facing bases loaded with one out. Wright earned the save, his third of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n In his homecoming to Bakersfield, Chris Hernandez<\/a> earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year. Hernandez gave up two hits in one shutout inning while striking out one.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Titans look to secure the series victory in game two Saturday at CSU Bakersfield. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.<\/p>\n SUPPORT THE TITANS! FOLLOW THE TITANS! WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
\nFans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting\u00a0FullertonTitansTickets.com<\/a>. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu.<\/p>\n
\nFans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook\/FullertonTitans<\/a>), X (@FullertonTitans<\/a>) Instagram (@FullertonTitans<\/a>), YouTube (FullertonTitansAthletics<\/a>) and TikTok (@FullertonTitans<\/a>). In addition, the baseball team has established its own Instagram (@fullertonbsb<\/a>), X (@FullertonBSB<\/a>) and TikTok (@fullertonbsb<\/a>).<\/p>\n
\nTitans fans can now watch every home event exclusively on\u00a0ESPN+<\/a>. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Titan Stadium. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on\u00a0ESPN+<\/a>\u00a0for all road conference games.<\/p>\n