GOOD EFFORT, TOUGH LOSS

Up 3-1 through seven innings, the Hornets let the game slip away at home Tuesday against Southwestern falling to the Jaguars 5-3. 

Fullerton scored a run in the first three innings of the contest taking a 3-0 lead. Tank Espalin came home on a wild pitch, Landon Runge hit a single to left field scoring Niko Santamaria, and Britton Beeson reached on a fielder's choice giving Espalin the chance to cross home plate. 

In the top of the fourth, Southwestern scored its first run on a solo shot that sailed over left field by Aaron Garcia.  

The score remained 3-1 until the top of the eighth when the Jags knocked in a run on Nico Vallarelli's single to right field plating Eric Nakano. 

The game fell apart for FC in the ninth with Southwestern taking a 5-3 lead. Eric Nakano singled through the right side scoring Arian Hinojosa and Aaron Garcia. Demarae Wood hit a double that nearly landed on the left field foul line down the left field line scoring Max Cadwalader. 

In the bottom of the ninth, the Hornets tried to generate some runs as Tank Espalin and Elie Kligman got on, but FC's comeback hopes were short-lived as a double-play ended the game. 

Nathan McManus got the start for Fullerton going 4 solid innings with 3 hits against, 1 earned eun, 2 strikeouts, and 0 walks. RP Ryan Chavez went 4 innings with 3 hits against, 1 earned run, 4 K's, and 0 walks. 

At the plate, Diego Franco and Landon Runge had 2 hits on the day with Runge adding a RBI. Fullerton had 9 hits altogether to SWC's 8. 

Up Next: The Hornets will play at Bakersfield College this Thursday, March 2nd at 2:00 pm. Then on Friday, Bakersfield College comes to Fullerton. The first pitch goes out at 1:00 pm.