FULLERTON, Calif. --- Junior John Gavin was lights out on the mound, while third baseman Taylor Bryant collected a career-high five RBI, as the two propelled the eighth-ranked Titans to an 8-1 win over No. 23 Stanford, Saturday evening at Goodwin Field.
For Fullerton (2-0), the victory clinches its first series victory over the Cardinal since 2009, while it's now started 2-0 for just the first time since 2013.
Gavin (1-0) was dominant from the very beginning, tossing a perfect game through 5.0 innings before surrendering a leadoff double to Stanford's Duke Kinamon to be begin the sixth. Gavin ended up pitching 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball, while striking out six and walking two.
Bryant had a career night at this dish, going 2-of-4 from the plate, including blasting a three-run shot to left center in the fifth. In all, eight different Titans notched a hit in the game, while Timmy Richards and Chris Prescott each scored a couple of runs.
On the other side, the Fullerton pitching staff was dominant once again, holding the Cardinal to without a multi-hit performer and not allowing a single earned run on the night. Gavin Velasquez made his first appearance of the season, as he recorded 3.0 shutout innings and fanned four, while giving up just three knocks in relief.
The Titan offense got things going early in this one, as Bryant collected two of his five RBI in the frame. He poked a one-out single through the right side, scoring Ruben Cardenas and Timmy Richards, who had previously reached on walks. Both eventually advanced into scoring position, thanks to a wild pitch.
Fullerton tacked on one more in the frame, as Hank LoForte drew what was the fifth walk of the inning, scoring Prescott from third to make it 3-0.
Stanford's Brett Hanewich (0-1) struggled to locate pitches most of the evening and got the early hook, as he went just 1.1 innings and allowed three earned runs, while walking three. In all, Fullerton drew seven walks on the evening.
The Titans then opened the flood gates in the 6th frame after Bryant launched his three-run dinger, scoring Richards and Prescott once again to make it a 6-0 Titan advantage.
Fullerton capped off its scoring an inning later, as Scott Hurst doubled home Dillon Persinger who singled up the middle a batter earlier. Hurst eventually came around to score on a throwing error to extend the Titan lead to 8-1.
Stanford's lone run came in the top of the 6th frame after Kinamon scored on a passed ball.
Fullerton aims for the series sweep over No. 23 Stanford, tomorrow at 1 pm PT out at Goodwin Field.
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the baseball team has established its own Twitter (@BaseballTitans) and Instagram accounts (csf_titanbaseball).