FULLERTON, Calif. — Junior right hander Tommy Wilson pitched seven strong innings to lead Cal State Fullerton to a 5-2 victory over Washington on Saturday to even their best-of-three super-regional series at a game apiece.
Wilson limited the Huskies to one run and three hits and improved to 7-0 on the season. Brett Conine pitched the eighth and ninth innings to secure the victory.
“They’re here for a reason, just like we are,” Huskies coach Lindsay Meggs said. “Nobody has to be reminded about their history and the type of program they are and the success they have had. I don’t know how realistic it is to have anyone come in here and get them in two games.”
Washington (34-24) fell to 1-9 all-time against Fullerton and needs a win Sunday to advance to its first CWS in school history.
Jordon Jones (6-4) went 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits and took the loss.
The Titans took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Sahid Valenzuela led off with a triple to right-center and scored on Jake Pavletich’s RBI double down the right-field line. Pavletich scored later in the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Huskies designated hitter Joe Wainhouse drilled his 18th home run of the season over the wall in left-center to lead off the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1. He blasted his second homer of the game to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Wainhouse has hit 13 long balls in his last 16 games.
Fullerton upped its lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning after three consecutive hits to lead off the inning. Jarius Richards and Brett Borgogno highlighted the rally with a RBI triple and single, respectively.
Hank LoForte’s two-out RBI triple increased Fullerton’s lead to 5-1 in the seventh.
The Huskies had their four-game win streak snapped. The Titans have won 9 of 11.
Joe DeMers came on in the ninth inning to preserve Friday’s win and is expected to start on Sunday for Washington.
LaForte extended his hitting streak to 21 games with a seventh-inning triple and has reached base in 44 consecutive games.
After Nick Kahle, Levi Jordan and AJ Graffanino combined to go 9 for 12 with five runs scored and four RBI in Friday’s 8-5 victory, the trio went 1 for 10 with no RBI on Saturday.
The Titans (36-24) forced a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday. The Titans will advance to its 19th College World Series with a victory.
A win in Game 3 would send Washington to its first-ever College World Series.
“As I told our guys, this is why you play college baseball,” he said. “This is why you come to the University of Washington, or why you go to Cal State Fullerton; to play in a game in front of what I’m sure will be a rowdy crowd for a trip to the College World Series. For both teams, what a great tune-up it will be for Omaha.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
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