FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton scored 15 runs in the first four innings and pounded out 16 hits on the night as they cruised to a 17-3 non-conference victory over Southern California on Senior Night Tuesday at Goodwin Field.
On a night when the Titans (29-22) honored their five seniors, the hosts batted around twice against the Trojans (27-23) and overcame an early three-run deficit to score 17 unanswered runs in the victory.
Every starter had a hit for the Titans, led by J.D. Davis. The Elk Grove, Calif. native went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. It was his second four-hit game this month as he tallied four hits against UC Riverside on May 9. In his last seven games, Davis is 17-for-30 with seven doubles, seven runs scored and seven RBI.
Keegan Dale extended his team-best hitting streak to 18 games as he went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and four RBI. He was the second Titans player to drive in four runs in the last four games as Davis drove in four at UC Irvine on May 16.
Clay Williamson went 1-for-4 with three runs scored and has now reached base safely in 24 straight games. Matt Chapman, David Olmedo-Barrera and Jared Deacon each collected two hits while Taylor Bryant was 1-for-2 with three RBI.
Phil Bickford collected the victory on the mound for the Titans as he went four and 1/3 innings in relief of senior Christian Coronado, who made his second career start. Bickford allowed just one hit and struck out three to earn his sixth victory of the season.
The Trojans jumped out in front with three runs in the top of the first, all coming with two outs. Jeremy Martinez started the rally with a single and then came around to score on a double by Jake Hernandez. Timmy Robinson followed with a walk and then both runners came around to score on a double from Blake Lacey.
But the Titans responded with an offensive explosion of their own in the first, tallying five runs on five hits to take the lead for good. Davis, Olmedo-Barrera and Bryant each had RBI hits with Bryant's two-run, two-out single breaking a 3-3 tie and putting the Titans ahead for good.
Brent Wheatley suffered the loss for the Trojans as was charged with all five runs, allowing five hits and walking one. He did not get out of the first inning and was the first of seven pitchers used by the Trojans on Tuesday night.
Jeremy Martinez and Jake Hernandez led the Trojans offense with two hits apiece while Lacey finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Notes: Prior to first pitch, the Titans honored Coronado, Deacon, Dale, Greg Velazquez and Grahamm Wiest for Senior Night. Deacon… Deacon went 2-for-3 on Tuesday and has seven hits in his last 12 at-bats… Velazquez went 1-for-3 on Tuesday night with a double… Both teams combined to collect 11 extra-base hits on Tuesday, five by the Titans… The Titans split the season series with the Trojans with each team winning a game on their home field… The Titans batted around twice in the same game for the first time this season… Tuesday's win was the Titans' fourth consecutive comeback victory and the three-run deficit was the largest overcome by the team this season… Both teams combined to use 13 pitchers on the night… The 17 runs and 14-run margin of victory tied for the most runs scored and biggest margin of victory by the Titans against the Trojans in 87 all-time meetings dating back to 1978. The Titans scored 17 against USC on Feb. 25, 1996 and defeated the Trojans by 14 back on Feb. 19, 1985.
