FULLERTON, Calif.--- Starting pitcher John Gavin was magnificent on the mound, as he recorded his fourth quality start of the season and led eighth-ranked Fullerton to a 2-1 series clinching win over USC, Saturday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
For the Titans (23-11), the win takes them to a season-high 12 games over .500 and extends their home win streak to 13 games, which is their longest such streak since 2009. Fullerton now owns a 7-1-1 record in weekend series this season and has recorded double-digit hits in 10 of the last 11 games. The Titans also improve to 16-2 when allowing two runs or less and now hold an 8-5 mark in one-run affairs.
Gavin (5-0) stayed perfect on the year, allowing just one earned run in 7.0 innings pitched, while walking one and fanning three. USC's (17-16) Marrick Crouse (2-5) took the loss, going 6.0 innings and giving up two earned runs off of nine hits.
Brett Conine was unhittable as usual. He locked down the six out save without surrendering a hit or a walk, while striking out one. He leads the club with seven saves on the season.
Zach Weller and Hank LoForte were the heroes offensively, as both went 2-for-4 at the plate, with each driving in a run.
Sahid Valenzuela earned his team-leading 14th multi-hit game, going 2-of-4 from the plate, extending his hit streak to nine games and his on-base streak to 14. Scott Hurst kept his team-best 11-game hit streak alive with a 1-for-4 day. Weller went on to drive in the go-ahead run and score the winning run in the sixth.
Both teams were held scoreless through five innings, before the Titans came through offensively in the bottom of the sixth.
The rally begin with two outs, as Hunter Cullen delivered a two out knock to left center. He eventually stole second base before Weller came through with a clutch knock through the right side to drive in Cullen. LoForte then launched a triple down into the right field corner to easily score Weller and make it a 2-0 Titan advantage.
USC's Cris Perez homered down the left field line to bring the Trojans within 2-1 with one out in the seventh.
However, Conine entered the game an inning later and retired six straight Trojans to lock up the Titan victory.
Fullerton will stay in non-conference play, as it'll head up to Lake Elsinore and take on San Diego at 6 pm PT.
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