SAN LUIS OBISPO - For the first time since 2007, Cal State Fullerton was swept in a Big West Conference series as they fell to No. 3 Cal Poly 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Baggett Stadium.
The Titans (18-16, 3-6) were swept for the first time in conference since 2007 when they dropped a three-game set to UC Riverside, who went on to win the conference that season. It was also the first time the Titans have been swept since 2011 when they dropped three in a row at Louisiana State.
The Titans dropped their fifth consecutive game while the Mustangs (34-5, 11-1) won their 10th straight game.
Grahamm Wiest had another outstanding start for the Titans despite taking his fourth loss of the year. The right-hander tossed second complete game of the season and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits. He struck out nine without issuing a free pass. It was the third time this season the red-shirt junior has fanned at least nine batters in a game.
The Titans did not offer Wiest much help on offense as they managed just three hits, tying a season low. Keegan Dale, J.D. Davis and Clay Williamson each went 1-for-3 to make up the Titans offense.
The Mustangs got on the board immediately as Mark Mathias continued his torrid hitting against Titans pitching in the series, blasting a leadoff home run over the left center field wall to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
It was Mathias only hit of the game but the reigning Big West Conference player of the week finished the series 8-for-16 against the Titans pitching staff with a home run and three doubles.
In the fifth, the Mustangs added two more as Zack Zehner led off with a single. Ryan Drobny then popped out a sacrifice attempt back to Wiest, but Peter Van Gansen followed with a triple to right field getting past the diving attempt from Davis in right. Zehner scored and then Van Gansen walked home after the Titans throw to third sailed over Matt Chapman's leaping attempt and into the Mustangs dugout.
The Titans best chance to get to Mustangs starter Casey Bloomquist came in the sixth inning with two outs. Chapman walked and then Dale singled through the left side. Davis followed with a walk to load the bases for Tanner Pinkston, who hit a shot back to the box. But Bloomquist made his best hockey-goalie impersonation, knocking the ball down with his chest and then flipped the ball to home to get the force out and end the threat.
Bloomquist picked up his ninth victory of the year, tossing a complete-game shutout. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out eight.
The Titans will head to Fresno State for their next game on Wednesday before returning home for a conference series against Hawai'i.
Notes: Dale made his first start of the season at first base on Saturday after coming in to play the position in the ninth inning of Friday's game… The Titans were held to three hits for the third time this season, the last coming on Mar. 22 against Long Beach State at Goodwin Field. It was the first time they've been held to their season low on the road… The Titans have allowed an unearned run in seven of Wiest's nine starts this season… Saturday's game drew 2,614 fans, bringing the weekend total to 7,847, the second most fans to attend a three-game series in Baggett Stadium's history…