FULLERTON, Calif.--- A five-run fifth and a six-run seventh propelled eighth-ranked Cal State Fullerton to a convincing 13-5 win over USC behind a roaring crowd of 3,265, Friday night at Goodwin Field to even the series at one game apiece.
For the Titans (22-11), the win extends their home win streak to 12 straight games, which is their longest such streak since 2009.
Connor Seabold (4-4) earned the win, as he tossed his seventh quality start of the season, going 7.0 innings while allowing two runs, striking out nine, while scattering nine hits. USC (17-15) starter CJ Stubbs (0-2) took the loss, surrendering seven runs, three of them earned in 4.2 innings pitched.
Seven different Titans collected hits on the night, with Chris Hudgins leading the way with a career-high four RBI on 2-of-4 at the plate, including two runs scored a double and his first homer of the year.
Zach Weller took full advantage of his fourth career start, as he went 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored, a couple of walks and an RBI. Sahid Valenzuela extended his hit streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 13, going 1-of-2 with two runs scored, two RBI, a walk and a HBP.
Scott Hurst also extended his hit streak to 10 games, collecting a triple and scoring three times.
The offensive onslaught began quickly for Fullerton, as the first three Titans of the game reached base with Hurst and Sahid Valenzuela earning walks and Dillon Persinger crushing an RBI double down the left field line. Hunter Cullen later brought in another run with a one out RBI groundout to put Fullerton in front 2-0 heading to the second.
USC equalized things in the third inning, as David Edson provided a one out two-RBI single up the middle.
However, it was all but over after that, as Fullerton scored 11 unanswered runs, scoring five runs in the fifth off of three hits, four walks and an error. The Titans drew 10 walks on the night.
It was more of the same in the seventh, as Fullerton scored a season-high six runs in the frame. All four hits in the inning went for extra bases, highlighted by a Hudgins three-run bomb and a Niko Pacheco double.
The Titans took a 13-2 lead into the eighth. The Trojans scored three in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Fullerton aims to claim the series win in the finale tomorrow at 1 pm PT out at Goodwin Field.
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