GAME THREE SUPER REGIONALS: HORNETS ADVANCE TO THE FINALS!

The No. 14 FC baseball squad came through when it mattered most on Saturday afternoon pulling away late for a dramatic 7-3 victory over No. 19 LA Pierce College on Hornet Field to win the 3C2A Southern California Super Regional series two games to one.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 26-21 overall and advance to the 3C2A Southern California Regional Finals May 15-17 at No. 2 Santa Ana College.

Since the 2023 season under head coach Chad Baum, the Hornets have reached the SoCal Super Regionals in four consecutive seasons. During that stretch, Fullerton advanced to the SoCal Finals twice (2023 and 2026). Baum's first two seasons at the helm were also impacted by shortened schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In front of an energized home crowd, Fullerton found itself locked in a tense 3-3 battle entering the bottom of the eighth inning before the offense exploded at exactly the right time.

The Hornets loaded the bases and sophomore shortstop Diego Vazquez delivered the biggest swing of the season, ripping a bases-clearing triple to left-center field that sent Vinny Hudson, Jake Starr, and Nate Pone racing home. The clutch hit blew the game open and sent the Fullerton dugout into a frenzy as the Hornets grabbed a 6-3 lead.

Vazquez finished the afternoon 2-5 with 4 RBI and one run scored in a star-making playoff performance.

The next batter up, Luke Viola, drilled a sharp RBI single through the left side to bring home Vazquez and extend the lead to 7-3. Viola finished 2-5 with one RBI while Carlos Barrios had a monster day at the plate going 4-4.

Fullerton showed resilience after falling behind early. LA Pierce plated two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Hornets answered in the fourth. Kai Hopfel drove in the first Fullerton run with a sacrifice bunt before Jake Starr tied the game with an RBI single. Vazquez followed with an RBI knock to give the Hornets their first lead of the afternoon at 3-2.

The Brahmas tied the game again in the eighth inning before Fullerton delivered its unforgettable response in the bottom half.

Jake Starr scored twice and added an RBI while Coen Goeas doubled and scored a run. The Hornets totaled 11 hits in the victory.

On the mound, Fullerton pieced together a gritty bullpen effort. Nate Baughman got the start while Landen Pulsifer, Matthew McCliman, Hunter Billingsley, and Murdoch Taylor combined to keep the Brahmas in check the rest of the way.

Taylor earned the win in relief to improve to 3-1 on the season and fittingly closed out the game with a backwards strikeout looking that sent the Hornets pouring out of the dugout in celebration.

FC now turn its attention to the next level of 3C2A playoffs as they travel down to a familiar OEC rival for the SoCal Regional Finals against powerhouse Santa Ana College with a trip to the state championships on the line.

Up Next: No. 14 Fullerton College will travel to No. 2 Santa Ana College for the 3C2A Southern California Regional Finals scheduled for May 15-17.

Once a Hornet, Always a Hornet!

The Vazquez Triple.