Dons Fall to Fullerton in Extra Innings after Late Rally

Justin Mellano finished 3-for-6 for the Dons with a home run against Fullerton College
Justin Mellano finished 3-for-6 for the Dons with a home run against Fullerton College

SANTA ANA - The Dons lost their season series to Fullerton College 3-0 following a 16-10 loss in 12 innings of an Orange Empire Conference game. The Dons (14-5, 2-4) had rallied from a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to force extra innings before Fullerton (16-2, 6-0) sealed the game with a six-run 12 inning.

The Dons late rally came after the Hornets scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 10-6 lead. Trevor Steinman and Chris Major each drove in a run on a pair of RBI-singles before Tommy Anderson hit into a fielder's choice that allowed Steinman and Manny Velazquez, who came in as pinch runner for Major, to score and tie the game.

But the Hornets would hold off the Dons bid at a walk-off win by getting two-straight outs after Patrick Cromwell reached on an error and Andrew Ramos was intentionally walked. Cromwell reached third on a Steinman flyout but SAC was unable to bring him home.

The Dons kept Fullerton's bat quiet in the first two innings of bonus play, but the Hornets came out with five hits, including two home runs, to put the game away with six runs in the 12th inning.

Prior to the late excitement, Fullerton grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Dons evened the game at 2-2 in the second. After the Hornets reclaimed the lead at 4-2 through three innings, the Dons tied the game once again at 3-3 after four.

Fullerton edged the Dons 2-1 in the fifth inning to take a 5-4 lead before both teams scored one run apiece in the seventh inning to make the game 7-6 in favor of Fullerton.

Andrew Hodges (4-3) took the loss for the Dons as he allowed six runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work. Nick Vega (3-0) got the win for Fullerton as he held the Dons hitless over two innings.