HONOLULU--- Connor Seabold didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, as he went 8.0 innings, allowing just two knocks overall and a run while striking out seven, leading the Titans to 3-1 victory over Hawaii, Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
For Fullerton (27-15, 9-4 Big West), the win marks its fourth straight series opening victory over a Big West opponent, while Seabold has now recorded a quality start in eight of his last nine outings. He's gone at last seven innings in five straight starts.
Brett Conine locked up his team-best 10th save of the season, striking out two of the three batters he faced, extending his scoreless innings streak to 21.
Scott Hurst was a monster from the leadoff spot, going 4-of-4 from the dish, including a double and a triple. He fell just a home run shy of the cycle. He scored two runs and drove in one.
Timmy Richards went 1-of-3 from the plate and drove in two, while Chris Hudgins collected a couple of knocks, going 2-of-3 from the plate with a run scored.
The Titans managed to strike first, manufacturing a run in their half of the first. Hurst reached on a leadoff walk and then stole second base before Sahid Valenzuela moved him over to third base on a groundout. Richards then came through with a base hit just over the third baseman's head to drive in the run and put Fullerton up 1-0.
Hurst continued his big night in the sixth, recording a leadoff triple to right center. Two batters later, Richards picked up his second RBI of the night, notching a sacrifice fly to right field to score Hurst and put the Titans up 2-0.
Things got a little dicey for Fullerton in the sixth, as Johnny Weeks doubled down the left field line to break up Seabold's no-hit bid. Seabold then hit Dylan Vchulek before Dustin Demeter laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with just one out.
One batter latter, Kekai Rios struck out, but reached on a wild pitch, allowing a run to score as well to make it just a 2-1 Titan advantage.
However the Fullerton defense snuffed out a would-be double steal attempt by UH, recording the 2-5-2 putout to get a Seabold out of trouble.
A half inning later the offense responded, as Hudgins began the top of the seventh with a single up the middle, Chris Prescott then laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move Hudgins to second. Hurst finished the deal, blasting one up the middle to score the run and extend Fullerton's lead to 3-1.
That's where the lead would stand for the remainder of the contest. Fullerton aims to clinch its ninth series victory of the season tomorrow, as it'll take on Hawaii in game two at 9:35 pm PT.
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