NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton tied its season-high with 15 runs in a 15-1 victory over CSUN Saturday afternoon at Matador Field to even the series at one game apiece.
With the win the Titans improve to 25-13 and 16-4 in Big West play to remain in first place in the conference standings.
After dropping game one the Titans quickly flipped the script in game two, scoring two runs in the top of the second to take an early lead. With the bases loaded the CSUN pitcher balked to bring home Nate Nankil. Brendan Bobo then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Carter White.
The Titans added four more runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. With one out Nankil blasted his fifth home run of the season to left field to make it a 3-0 Titans lead. Nankil went 2-for-3 in the game with two runs and an RBI. On the year he is hitting .341 with 33 runs and a team-high 34 RBI which ranks ninth in the Big West.
Me is I and I is HIM#TusksUp | @nankils619 pic.twitter.com/zdH7MuXuyt
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
Later in the fourth inning, Bobo hit a three-run home run to center field for his team-high seventh home run of the season to make it a 6-0 game. Bobo went 1-for-3 on the day with two runs and a game-high four RBI.
That's pure strength ��
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
B��B�� B��MB#TusksUp | @brendan_bobo pic.twitter.com/X9PT5VeDuI
Fullerton extended its lead in the seventh inning on RBIs by Caden Connor and Zach Lew to extend the Titans lead to 8-0.
Caden puts the Titans up 7-0! #TusksUp | @Caden_Connor77 pic.twitter.com/HqiDgR6xMo
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
8-0, good guys! #TusksUp | @zachlew20 pic.twitter.com/wmatPaRJ9w
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
After CSUN got one run in the bottom half of the seventh, the Titans responded with a season-high seven runs in the eighth inning.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Jack Haley singled through the right side of the infield to bring home Maddox Latta.
Titans get the run back thanks to @jackhaley25! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ZJ6ixx3aUt
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
One batter later, Moises Guzman singled to center field to drive in Cole Urman and put the Titans up 10-1.
Moi getting in on the action
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
Titans lead 10-1! #TusksUp | @Moi_3131 pic.twitter.com/0b0afWRf8q
Following a pitching change for CSUN, runners advanced on a wild pitch that allowed Bobo to score from third base. Caden Connor then had a productive infield out to score Haley. With runners on the corners, Guzman scored on another wild pitch to make it a 13-1 Titans lead.
Carter White kept the inning going for the Titans with an RBI single to left field to drive in Lew from third.
Pouring it on! #TusksUp | @carter__white pic.twitter.com/PqGFWuLS1r
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
With two outs, Urman hit an RBI single to right field to score Colby Wallace and put the Titans up 15-1. Urman had one of his best games as a Titan at the plate, tying a career-high with four hits in four at-bats while scoring two runs and driving in one.
Titans are still going! #TusksUp | @cole_urman pic.twitter.com/tOnf9aM80n
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 29, 2023
Eight of the nine Titans in the starting lineup recorded a hit while five Titans recorded multiple hits and seven different batters drove in at least one run. For the first time this season, the Titan batters did not have a strikeout.
Fynn Chester had another strong start for the Titans to improve to 7-0 on the year. Chester gave up just four hits in five shutout innings while striking out three and not walking a single batter. The senior has a 2.23 ERA on the year with 34 strikeouts and just four walks in 48.1 innings pitched.
The Titans and Matadors meet for the series-deciding game three Sunday afternoon at Matador Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.
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