SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton baseball defeats Cal Poly, 9-4, Thursday night to secure its first 30 win season since 2018. The Titans improve to 30-21 on the year with the win and 19-9 in Big West play.
The Titans opened the game with five runs in the first inning, tying a season-high in the first inning and doing so for the first time since Feb. 19 against Stanford.
Zach Lew led-off the game with a home run to put the Titans up 1-0. It is the first time a Titan led-off the game with a home run since Scott Hurst on May 20, 2017 at CSUN.
Lew leads-off with a bomb! #TusksUp | @zachlew20 pic.twitter.com/f8zNcyxQQ1
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
With Nate Nankil at second base, Moises Guzman hit an RBI double down the left field line to extend the Titans lead to 2-0. Guzman had a career-high four hits in five at-bats with two runs and an RBI.
Moi drives in a run to put the Titans up 2-0! #TusksUp | @Moi_3131 pic.twitter.com/CJBnsiYeKZ
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
Following a Carter White single to push Guzman to third, Cole Urman doubled off the wall in left field to put Fullerton up 3-0.
Off the Wall!#TusksUp | @cole_urman pic.twitter.com/aYMAFIC4Js
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
Freshman Eli Lopez then singled through the right side of the infield to drive in two runs and make it a 5-0 game.
Eli drives in ✌️! #TusksUp | @elixeli7 pic.twitter.com/JJSG4m25Tf
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
It is Lopez's first multi-RBI game of his early collegiate career. The freshman had a career-high three hits in four at-bats with a career-high three RBI
Cal Poly answered with one run in the bottom of the first inning to cut the Titans lead to 5-1. Tyler Stultz did a great job limiting the damage to just one run after walking the first two batters.
The Titans extended their lead to 7-1 in the seventh inning. With two outs Fullerton strung together four consecutive singles, including RBI singles by Lopez and JT Navyac.
Have yourself a day Eli! #TusksUp | @elixeli7 pic.twitter.com/6CGFHkfovo
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
JT keeps the two-out rally going! #TusksUp | @jtnavyac pic.twitter.com/L419Cnh9fJ
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
The Mustangs got back in the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a three-run home run by Evan Cloyd.
Fullerton got two runs back in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single by Urman to drive in Guzman from second base.
Cole beats the shift to get a run back! #TusksUp | @cole_urman pic.twitter.com/nmNKPBBD51
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) May 26, 2023
Urman had a strong game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a tied for career-high three runs and two RBI. With the bases loaded Caden Connor worked a walk to bring home Urman and put the Titans up 9-4.
Stultz got the start on the mound and gave the Titans everything he had, throwing over 140 pitches in 7.2 innings. Stultz allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking four and striking out nine batters.
Fullerton looks to lock up the series victory in game two against Cal Poly Friday night at Baggett Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT.
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