FULLERTON, Calif. – Freshman Jake Jefferies hit for the cycle and drove in seven runs as No. 5 Cal State Fullerton defeated Pacific 11-6 on Friday night at Goodwin Field to clinch the series.
Jefferies, a freshman from Pleasanton, Calif., completed the feat in order with a two-run single in the first, two-run double in the third, a one-run triple in the fifth and a two-run homer in the sixth.
For the starting second baseman, it was his second home run of the year, while with a 4-for-5 effort, he became the first Titan in 2013 to total four hits in a single game.
Justin Garza (6-0) led Fullerton (23-4, 2-0 Big West) on the mound, allowing three runs in six innings on seven hits, while issuing one walk and fanning seven. Tyler Peitzmeier, Joe Navilhon and Michael Lopez each appeared in relief.
Cal State Fullerton took a 4-0 lead in the first as one of three Pacific (7-14, 0-2 Big West) errors in the game kept the bottom of the frame alive for the Titans. The Tigers intentionally walked Michael Lorenzen to load the bases before Cory Popham issued a five-pitch walk to Anthony Hutting, forcing across Fullerton's first run of the game. A balk then allowed J.D. Davis to score from third, and Jefferies dropped a two-run single into shallow right field, allowing Lorenzen and Hutting to score.
Popham was credited with the loss, allowing four unearned runs on one hit and three walks in just 2/3 of an inning as the starter struggled to find the plate.
Bryce Lombardi, Patrick Weigel, Jake Jenkins and Gabe Araj each appeared in relief for the Tigers.
The Titans added a run in the second to claim a 5-0 lead as Richy Pedroza tripled over the head of Pacific centerfielder Tyler Sullivan, and scored on a Carlos Lopez groundout RBI.
The Titans took a 7-0 lead in the third as Jefferies once again pushed across two runs with a double off the wall in left, scoring Chad Wallach and Lorenzen after the pair led off the bottom of the frame with back-to-back singles.
In the fifth, the Titans scored two runs with Jefferies' RBI triple to right center and Austin Diemer's RBI single, taking a 9-3 advantage.
Jefferies two-run homer in the sixth gave Fullerton an 11-3 edge, but Pacific scored three runs in the eighth with Navilhon on the mound. Erik Lockwood led off the inning with a solo bomb to left, while Scott Sullivan followed with an inside the park home run. A double and error allowed Pacific's third run of the frame to score.
Fullerton pitching coach Jason Dietrich was ejected from the game in the top of the fifth.
The series finale is set for 2 p.m. from Goodwin Field on Saturday.
Notes: Dating back to 1990, Cal State Fullerton has a record of 59-12 during the first weekend of Big West play…in 24 Big West opening series, the Titans have won 23 times… Fullerton's 23-4 start is the best for the program since the 1996 squad opened the year 31-2…Michael Lorenzen extended his hitting streak to 11 games…Cal State Fullerton has outscored opponents 26-6 in the first inning…the Titans' 11 runs matched a season high…Jake Jefferies' four hits were the most for a Fullerton player in a single game since Anthony Trajano at Cal State Northridge on March 31, 2012...Jefferies' seven RBIs in a single game were the most for a Titan in a single game since Danny Dorn drove in seven runs vs. Harvard on June 3, 2005…Scott Sullivan's inside the park home run in the eighth was the second this year at Goodwin Field as Fullerton's Anthony Hutting completed the feat vs. Oregon on March 1.