FULLERTON, Calif --- No. 19 UCI climbed back to tie after an early deficit set them back only to fall 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Cal State Fullerton.

Miscue City
The 'Eaters (28-10, 10-5) dug themselves a hole in the first inning in part by some defensive lapses. A one-out popup from Sahid Valenzuela into short left field fell between a trio of Anteaters putting two Titans on base to start things. The next hitter Daniel Cope slashed a ball into the gap in right center occupied by Konnor Zickefoose, but he misread the ball allowing it to sail over his head for a double scoring two runs. CSF (17-22, 5-7) got a gift for their third run as Jake Pavletich dumped a looper on the right field line to score Cope and put the Titans up 3-0 after an inning.

The Long Road Back
UC Irvine slowly got back into the game the very next inning thanks to a long ball. John Jensen parked his first as an Anteater to right field for a solo shot to make it a 3-1 deficit. UCI added a second run in the third inning from the bat of Konnor Zickefoose. Brandon Lewis reached on an error and continued around to third base on a pair of wild pitches. Adrian Damla's grounder was hard enough that Lewis had to hold at third, but Zickefoose came through with the two-out knock into RF and draw CSF closer, 3-2.

The 6th Inning
The game turned in the sixth with the 'Eaters entering the inning still down, 3-2. Zickefoose made a move again doubling to right-center to start off the inning. Mikey Filia's bunt put him at third base, and he would cross the plate on Griffin Mazur's groundout completing the five-inning comeback in the sixth and tie it, 3-3. The Titans had the right reponse in the bottom of the inning started by a single and a sacrifice. The runner remained at second base with two outs, but AJ Curtis dropped a single into center field and Cope scored just ahead of Filia's throw to put CSF back on top for good, 4-3.

Final Score: Cal State Fullerton 4, No. 19 uC Irvine 3
Zickefoose had a three-hit day scoring a run and driving one in. Jensen also had two hits to go with his homer. Cope paced the Titans with two hits, runs, and RBIs.

Pitchers of Record
Trenton Denholm was saddled with the loss, his second to drop him to 7-2, with all four runs he allowed earned in seven innings pitched and a career-high 109 pitches. CSF closer Michael Weisberg got the start and lasted 2.1 innings, and he was relieved by Timothy Josten who scored his first win of the year to go to 1-4 on 3.1 innings, one earned run, and no walks. Kyle Luckham came through with the three-inning save for Fullerton allowing just a pair of hits

Next Up
UCI and CSF come together for a fourth game this season on Tuesday night, this time a non-conference matchup and this time in Anteater Ballpark on April 30 at 6:00 p.m. with the starters to be determined. UCI still picked up the conference series win, just the fifth all-time against CSF and third since 2002, but still have closed out just one sweep in the history of the matchup