Heading into 2026, the Cal State Fullerton Titans are looking to fully turn the corner and get back into the NCAA Tournament. A player who is set to help them accomplish this is senior Eli Lopez. Throughout his career with the Titans, Lopez has been a consistent base-hit machine.
In three seasons with Cal State Fullerton, Lopez has a .307 batting average with an on-base percentage of .412. He has 48 career RBIs with the Titans as well.
Lopez and the 2025 Season with Cal State Fullerton
The 2025 college baseball season was Lopez’s best year to date. He reached career highs in batting average (.314), slugging percentage (.422), on-base percentage (.417), hits (64), doubles (12), and RBIs (23).
He was one of Cal State Fullerton’s more reliable hitters alongside Maddox Latta and Carter Johnstone.
Latta was a senior who is now in the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, and Johnstone transferred to Vanderbilt. This leaves Lopez as one of the Titans’ main offensive weapons heading into 2026.
Can Lopez and the Titans get back to the NCAA Tournament?
In 2025, Cal State Fullerton finished the season with a 29-27 overall record. This was an improvement from a disappointing 16-38 season in 2024.
The Titans were really good in Big West play in 2025 with a 19-11 record. The only teams that finished ahead of them in the Big West Conference standings were the UC Irvine Anteaters and Cal Poly Mustangs.
Heading into 2026, Cal State Fullerton is in a position to be a threat in the Big West. They are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023.
Lopez’s base-hitting prowess and leadership will be a major part of accomplishing this feat.
Up Next for Cal State Fullerton
The Cal State Fullerton Titans will begin the 2026 college baseball season on February 13 against the California Baptist Lancers.
The game is at Cal State Fullerton’s home ballpark, Goodwin Field, and the first pitch is at 9:30 p.m. EST.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: Cal State Fullerton second baseman Eli Lopez (1) throws during an NCAA baseball game against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Fullerton, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
