Feb. 24, 2008

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FORT WORTH, Texas - Clint Arnold's bid for a game-tying three run home run in the ninth fell just shy of leaving the ballpark and the No. 14 Cal State Fullerton Titans held on for the 7-4 series clinching win. The Titans scored three times in the final two innings to break a 4-4 tie as they handed TCU its first series loss in almost two years.

A passed ball in the top of the first inning proved costly as the Titans jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. Josh Fellhauer singled to lead off the game and moved to second when Jeff Newman was hit by the pitch. Both runners moved up 90 feet on the passed ball and Gary Brown drove in the first run of the game with a ground out to short. A Corey Jones sacrifice bunt pushed the lead to 2-0.

The Frogs cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame thanks to heads-up base running from Ben Carruthers, who reached on a one-out error. Carruthers stole second base and, with Matt Vern at the plate, he took off for third and scored on a groundout from Vern to make it a 2-1 game.

Both pitchers settled into a rhythm as they threw up zeros for the next three innings. Fullerton broke through in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on two hits and two errors to open up a 4-1 advantage.

TCU responded with three runs of its own to knot the game at four apiece in the bottom of the inning. Aaron Schultz led off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a walk to Bryan Holaday. Pinch-hitter Steve Ellington came through with a two-strike base hit to load the bases with nobody out.

Cal State Fullerton starter Adam Jorgenson struggled with his control and plunked Arnold to drive in the first run of the inning. After a strikeout, Vern came through with a clutch one-out two-run single that tied the game. The Titans went to their bullpen and Jason Dovel was able to get out of the jam to keep it a tie game.

The Titans broke through again in the eighth, picking up the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt from Joel Weeks to give them the 5-4 lead.

TCU looked poised to tie the game as Hunt Woodruff singled with one out and moved all the way to third on a misplay in the outfield. Fullerton pitcher Brian Wilson got out of the jam, retiring the next two batters he faced and the Titans tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth to make it a 7-4 contest.

Holaday worked a lead-off base on balls and pinch-hitter Matt McGuirk followed with a base hit to put two on with nobody out. Arnold looked like he had tied the game with a long fly ball to left, but Titan outfielder Newman tracked it down at the wall for the out and Wilson got the next two batters to close the game. Greg Holle went 4 2/3 innings in his first collegiate start. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Tyler Lockwood tossed two scoreless innings for the Frogs as well. Dillon Farish (0-1) took the loss, facing just one batter.

The Frogs (1-2) will close out the season-opening home stand Tuesday night when they host Dallas Baptist. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Lupton Stadium.

Game Notes:
• The Frogs set a new single-series attendance record as 7,486 fans witnessed the three-game set against the Titans.
• Sunday's attendance of 2,670 is the fifth-highest attended game in stadium history.
• Clint Arnold has now hit safely in 10 straight games dating back to the 2007 season.
• The Frogs had won their previous 16 series dating back to the 2006 season.