SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – College baseball history was made on Thursday, as Colton Eastman put together one of the most spectacular pitching performances in Titan Baseball history. He tossed the fifth no-hitter program history en route to a 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Conference opener out at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
Eastman pitched easily his best game of his collegiate baseball career, tossing 9.0 shutout innings, without allowing a run or hit, while striking out seven and just walking one. The no-hitter marked Fullerton's first since Justin Garza also recorded one in a 3-0 win over CSUN on May 24, 2014. The no-no was just the Titans' first no-hitter on the road, as the previous four came at home.
Fullerton's (10-13, 1-0 Big West) no-no is the 17th in DI baseball so far this year, which already breaks the all-time record for no-hitters in a single season set in 2013. Eastman also wears No. 17.
Solid day at the yard. Can't wait to go back to the hotel, relax, maybe watch a little @SportsCenter with @stanverrett, Neil and special guest @EastmanColton #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/j6ciFFRmhG
— Titan Baseball (@BaseballTitans) March 30, 2018
Before his no-hitter, Eastman had never pitched more than seven innings.
Offensively, the Titans had just enough, as each of the first six Titans collected hits. Brett Borgogno had himself the best performance of his collegiate career, as he went 3-for-4 from the plate with a career-best three knocks and two RBI. Mitchell Berryhill picked up his fourth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-of-5 from the dish.
Jacob Pavletich went 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Tyler Lasch had himself a day at third base, going 1-of-4 with two runs scored. Sahid Valenzuela, Ruben Cardenas and Daniel Cope all recorded hits.
We heard from the heroes from today's #nohitter. Take it away @d_cope1 and @EastmanColton #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/FO9xRYuU7i
— Titan Baseball (@BaseballTitans) March 30, 2018
Titans broke the 0-0 tie in the fourth, improving to 8-3 when scoring first this season. Lasch led off the second by reaching on an error. Pavletich then singled up the middle, while both runners then moved to third and second after a Jace Chamberlin. Borgogno then came through with a knock up the middle to score Pavletich to put Fullerton up 1-0.
Jordan Hernandez then executed the squeeze play to score Pavletich from third to extend Fullerton's advantage to 2-0.
All-Time Titan #NoHitters
— Titan Baseball (@BaseballTitans) March 30, 2018
Longo Garcia - 1987
Ted Silva - 1995
Kirk Saarloos - 2001
Justin Garza - 2014@EastmanColton - 3/29/18
Welcome to the club Colt. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/SkPeM95iEY
Fullerton got its third run in the sixth, as Lasch began the frame with a single up the middle. Pavletich then bunted Lasch to second. Two batters later, Borgogno came up with a clutch two-out single through the left side to make it 3-0.
That was more than enough for Fullerton. UCSB got two runners on in the ninth to make things interesting, but Eastman and the Titans finished the deal.
The Titans go for the series win tomorrow at 3 pm PT tomorrow.
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