2ND ANNUAL DON HUDSON GAME – HORNETS FLY OVER THE CYPRESS

The No. 16-ranked Hornet baseball squad delivered a resilient performance at home Thursday afternoon holding off No. 7 Cypress College 8-7- a great win for the second annual Don Hudson Scholarship Game.

The victory evened the three-game Orange Empire Conference series at 1-1 after the Hornets dropped the opener on Tuesday 7-1. With Thursday's win, Fullerton improves to 16-8 overall and 3-2 in OEC play, while Cypress moves to 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the conference standings.

Prior to the game, longtime college baseball supporter Don Hudson was honored for establishing a baseball scholarship that carries his name. Surrounded by coaches from both the Hornets and Chargers programs, Hudson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his longtime friend and Orange Coast fan Rick Bunda.

Cypress struck first in the opening inning when Wyatt Joyce doubled home two runs to give the Chargers an early 2-0 lead.

The Hornets quickly answered in the second inning when Ryan Villanueva launched a two-run homer to left field tying the game at 2-2.

After Cypress briefly regained the lead in the third on a solo jack by Justin Tillar, Fullerton responded again in the fourth inning. Nate Pone ripped a triple down the right-field line to bring home Nico Lopez, and moments later Jake Starr lined an RBI single to right to score Pone giving the Hornets a 4-2 advantage.

The Chargers rallied in the fifth inning to tie the game 4-4 on a blooper to right by John Short that scored two, however FC quickly took back the lead in the bottom half.

With runners in scoring position, Vinny Hudson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Luke Viola pushing the Hornets ahead 5-4.

Cypress again tied the game in the sixth inning, but the Hornets delivered one of the biggest hits of the afternoon when Sean Green drove a double into right-center field that brought in Luke Viola and Diego Vazquez to give the Hornets a 7-5 lead.

The Chargers managed to claw back within one run late in the game, but the Hornet bullpen stepped up in key moments.

Starter Eddie Garcia worked three innings before the bullpen took over. Landen Pulsifer, Mason Smith, Nico Rodriguez, Nate Walraven, and Murdoch Taylor combined to stabilize the game. Taylor earned the win after striking out three batters over the final 1.2 innings to shut down the Chargers.

Nate Pone led the offense with 2 hits that included a triple and a RBI. Luke Viola added 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and a RBI. Sean Green drove in 2 runs with his clutch sixth-inning double, and Ryan Villanueva sparked the offense with his two-run homer and finished with 2 RBIs.

Defensively, the Hornets also turned multiple double plays to halt Cypress rallies and maintain momentum throughout the game.

Coach Baum on Don Hudson

"It's a privilege to take a moment to recognize someone who has had a truly lasting impact on our programs and, more importantly, on the lives of our student-athlete Don Hudson. Don's commitment to our players and to the growth of our programs has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the years, he has been a constant supporter— someone who believes deeply in the opportunities that athletics and education create together. His generosity isn't just about financial support; it's about investing in people, in futures, and in the idea that hard-working student-athletes deserve every chance to succeed. Through his endowed scholarships at Fullerton College and Cypress College, Don has created opportunities that will last for generations. These scholarships will continue to help student-athletes pursue their academic goals while competing in the sports they love, long after today. That kind of impact doesn't fade—it grows year after year. But what makes Don's support so special is that it's personal. He has always been someone who cares deeply about the players, about the coaches, and about the culture of these programs. His encouragement, belief, and presence over the years have meant a great deal to all of us. And his generosity extends even further. Don has also endowed scholarships at Orange Coast College and Cal State Fullerton, continuing this incredible commitment to supporting student-athletes and higher education throughout our community. Don, thank you for your belief in our programs, for your unwavering support of our players, and for the lasting legacy you are creating through these scholarships. We are incredibly grateful, and we are proud to honor you today", Hornet Head Baseball Coach Chad Baum.

Up Next: The Hornets (16-8 overall, 3-2 OEC) will play wrap up the OEC series with the Chargers this Friday, March 13th when the team travels back over to Cypress College for a 2:00 pm matchup.