FULLERTON, Calif.--- The Titans collected double-digit hits for the eighth consecutive game, as the offense powered Fullerton to an 8-5 comeback victory over UC Davis, Sunday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
Fullerton (21-10, 5-1 Big West) has now won five straight games and 11 consecutive home games. It's the Titans' longest home win streak since winning the final 15 home games of the 2009 season. The Titans have also recorded at least one home run in five games in a row.
Dillon Persinger and Sahid Valenzuela led the offensive onslaught, as Persinger went 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and a walk. The homer marked the first of his career, while the three RBI was also a new career high. Valenzuela ran his hit streak to six games and notched his fifth multi-hit performance during that span, going 3-of-5 from the plate with two runs scored.
Ruben Cardenas continued to stay hot, going 1-for-3 with two RBI on the day.
Taylor Bryant also chipped in with two knocks and two runs scored. Scott Hurst also recorded a hit and scored a run. Hank LoForte racked a hit, scored a run and drove in a run.
John Gavin (4-0) grinded his way through seven innings to earn the win and keep his record perfect on the year, surrendering five runs on six hits and fanning two. Brett Conine picked up a six-out save, tossing a perfect two innings of baseball, not allowing anything while striking out three. He leads the club with six saves on the season.
UC Davis' (9-16, 2-4 Big West) Connor Loar (0-1) took the loss in relief, as he gave up four runs on five hits while recording just one out in the seventh.
The Titans improved to 10-1 when scoring in the first inning this year, as they struck for three in the first frame. Hurst led off the game with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a Valenzuela ground out. With two outs, Bryant reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop, also allowing Hurst to come around to score.
Then it was Persinger's turn to provide the fireworks, as he a launched the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to score two and make it a 3-0 Titan lead.
However, the Aggies responded with three runs of their own in the top of the third frame with three hits in the inning, capped off by a Ryan Anderson two-run shot to left.
Davis would go on to score in three straight innings, as Brad Pluschkell recorded a solo dinger to left field in the fourth, while Cameron Briggs picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to bring in Alex Aguiar, who doubled down the left field line to start the fifth.
The Titans got one back in their half of the fifth, as Valenzuela led off the frame with a triple into the right center gap, before Timmy Richards brought him in on an RBI groundout to cut the Fullerton deficit to 5-4.
But the Titans saved their best for late, as Fullerton struck for four in the seventh. Valenzuela once again started the rally with a single up the middle before Bryant came through with a double to right center to put runners on the corners with one out.
Persinger then tied things up, as he shot a rocket past the diving third baseman to score Valenzuela. LoForte then laid down a perfect bunt to score Bryant from third and give the Titans a 6-5 lead. Then Cardenas came through with a single to left field to drive in two more for Fullerton.
The Titans hung on to win by the final of 8-5.
Fullerton will take its five-game win streak to Los Angeles, as it'll play USC on Thursday at 6 pm.
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