FULLERTON, Calif. – Two questionable calls on a hit by pitch and a close play at second base in the bottom of the ninth allowed Cal State Fullerton to tie the game before beating the University of Hawai'i baseball team 5-4 in the 11th inning on Friday night.
 
With one out in the ninth, the home plate umpire called a hit by pitch on a fastball up and in against redshirt freshman Tyler Dyball, bringing the tying run to the plate. The next batter grounded up the middle and Hawai'i's shortstop Kole Kaler flipped the ball to second baseman Aaron Ujimori a couple of steps before the runner got to the bag standing up. The runner was called safe, putting the tying run to at first base. A pinch hitter tripled for the Titans and the game was tied 4-4.
 
In the 11th inning, a lead-off triple scored on a two-out single through the left side and Cal State Fullerton (18-18, 11-6 Big West) took the first game of the four-game series.
 
Hawai'i (20-15, 12-13 Big West) scored first, scoring three runs on four-straight hits to start the game and a sacrifice fly. A lead-off single by Kaler was followed up by a double by left fielder Scotty Scott doubling inside the third base bag. A single from designated hitter Dustin Demeter scored Kaler and Scott. A single by center fielder Adam Fogel moved Demeter to third and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Alex Baeza scored Demeter.

Fullerton answered with two runs in the bottom half.
 
The Rainbow Warriors scored a run in the top of the ninth but it wasn't enough. Hawai'i got the go-ahead run 90 feet from home in the 10th and 11th but could not plate the run.
 
Sophomore Aaron Davenport turned in one of his best pitching performances in Big West play this season and in his career. Striking out 10 over 7.2 innings with a career-high 122 pitches thrown.
 
Hawai'i and Cal State Fullerton will play a doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m. HT on Saturday.