FULLERTON, Calif.--- Twelve different Titans recorded at least one hit, while nine batters scored at least one run, as 12th ranked Cal State Fullerton powered by San Diego, 13-2, Tuesday evening at Goodwin Field.
For Fullerton (18-10), the win marks its third straight victory overall and its eighth consecutive home win. The Titan offense has now exploded for 28 runs on 30 hits over its last two ballgames, while Fullerton has now handed San Diego (19-7) two of its last three losses.
Starting pitcher Joe Wills (4-0) gave the Titans what they needed on the mound, going 5.0 innings, surrendering just two runs on four hits, walking none and striking out a career-high six batters to earn his fourth win of the year. San Diego starter Louis Crow (2-2) suffered the loss, as he only lasted 2.2 innings, while surrendering four runs on five hits.
Daniel Cope made his first career start behind the plate and collected the first hits of his career, as he went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Zach Weller made the most of his night, going 2-for-2 with two runs driven in, two runs scored and a double.
Chris Prescott came in midway through the game and went 2-of-3 with a run scored, while Timmy Richards extended his hit streak and on-base streak to 10 and 20 games respectively, as he went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Jake Pavletich launched his first career home run, taking one out to left field in a pinch hit opportunity to record two RBI. JT McLellan and Scott Hurst also recorded multiple RBI, as McLellan went 1-of-3 from the plate, drove in two and walked twice, while Hurst had a 1-of-3 night, drove in two and scored one.
Hank LoForte and Boston Romero each drove in runs on the evening.
The Toreros held a 1-0 lead early after Hunter Mercado-Hood hit a home run to right field with one out in the top of the first, but that would be the last time USD would see a lead, as the Fullerton offense then scored in three consecutive innings to take a 9-1 advantage into the fifth.
Taylor Bryant and Hunter Cullen each singled to begin the bottom the second. Bryant scored on a throwing error, while Cullen moved to up to second before LoForte singled up the middle to bring home Cullen and make it a 2-0 Titan lead.
In the third, Sahid Valenzuela led off with a single, then eventually advanced to second base on a fielder's choice. Cullen received the Titans' first intentional walk of the year with two outs, as San Diego didn't want to take their chances with a guy hitting 13-of-26 with two outs on the season. However the very next batter made the Toreros pay, as McLellan stepped up and roped a single to center, scoring both runs and making it a 4-0 Fullerton lead.
Things really got out of hand in the fourth, as the Titans exploded for five runs on four hits, as Romero started things with a walk, followed by a Cope double to center. Hurst then cleared the bases with a double to right field. Valenzuela sacrificed Hurst over to third base with a bunt before Richards singled up the middle to bring in the third run of the frame.
A wild pitch brought home another run before Romero came up for the second time in the inning to single home another run. Eleven Titans came to the plate in the inning before it was all said and done.
San Diego got one back in the fifth, before Fullerton was able to put up another crooked number in the seventh, scoring four runs on four hits, thanks in large part to a Weller double and a Pavletich homer.
The Titans now shift back to Big West play, as they'll host UC Davis in their conference opener, Friday at 7 pm PT on ESPN3.
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