Garcia’s Double Rallies Fullerton Past UCI, 8-3

Cal State Fullerton scored four runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and defeat UC Irvine, 8-3, Saturday in a Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. baseball game.

The Titans (5-3, 26-13) trailed, 3-2, going into the seventh when Anteater reliever Bo Kent walked leadoff batter Ken Garcia. Andy Newkirk was put in to pinch-run for Garcia. Kent struck out the next batter, Andy Mota, but yielded a single to shortstop Larry Cratsenberg to put runners at first and second. When Kent walked Keith Watkins, Fullerton had the bases loaded with one out.

Left fielder Jef Garcia doubled to right to drive in Newkirk and Cratsenberg and give the Titans a 4-3 lead.

Pat Garman reached base on first baseman Gene Roumimper’s error, allowing Watkins and Garcia to score and giving the Titans a 6-3 lead.

Fullerton scored two more runs in the eighth, one on a Cratsenberg single that drove in right fielder Dann Howitt. Later, Mota, who walked, scored on a throwing error by UCI catcher Doug Kline to make the score 8-3.

The Titans collected 10 hits. Cratsenberg was 3 for 4 with one RBI and a run scored. Howitt was 2 for 4 with a triple and one run scored. Jef Garcia was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Winning pitcher Mike Harkey (7-5) went the distance, allowing seven hits and striking out seven. Harkey, a sophomore, pitched his fifth complete game, which leads the Titan pitching staff. Kent (5-4) took the loss.

Fullerton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on John Eccles’ RBI single that scored Jef Garcia.

Irvine (2-6, 12-18) tied the score when Mike Sugar’s single drove home Tom Baine, who had walked to lead off the inning.

Sugar was responsible for putting Irvine ahead with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Sugar, a junior third baseman, was 3 for 4 with three RBIs.