FULLERTON, Calif. – Back-to-back home runs in the third inning boosted No. 4 Cal State Fullerton to a 6-4 victory over USC on Tuesday night at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (29-4), won their eighth straight game using a six-run third inning and solid efforts from the bullpen.
Cal State Fullerton trailed the Trojans (12-20), 2-0, entering the bottom of the third, but the Titans quickly erased that deficit with a six-run effort.
USC starter Sean Adler surrendered base hits to Jake Jefferies and A.J. Kennedy before drilling Austin Diemer to load the bases with two outs for J.D. Davis.
The Titans' starting first baseman took Adler's 1-0 offering and changed Fullerton's two-run deficit into a two-run lead with a grand slam over the left field wall. It was Davis' third home run of the year, and his second grand slam.
Michael Lorenzen followed and pushed the Titans' lead to 5-2 with a solo round tripper over the left field wall, recording his team-leading seventh homer of the season.
Chad Wallach kept the inning alive with a double to left, and scored to give Fullerton a 6-2 lead courtesy of Matt Chapman's RBI single smacked back up the middle.
Adler (0-3) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in two and 2/3 innings of work.
Pitching in relief, right-hander Jose Cardona (1-1) was credited with the win after tossing two shutout innings and allowing just one hit.
In the start for the Titans, Koby Gauna allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three in three innings of work.
Also appearing out of the bullpen, Willie Kuhl, allowed two runs on two hits and one walk in one inning, while Henry Omana pitched two shutout innings of relief.
USC cut Fullerton's lead to 6-4 in the fifth as Bobby Stahel led off the inning with a double and moved to third on balk before Kuhl walked Adam Landecker. The Titans went to the bullpen, but Omana loaded the bases issuing a walk to James Roberts.
The Trojans then scored two runs on back-to-back sacrifices flies executed by Kevin Swick and Blake Lacey.
With just a two-run lead entering the top of the ninth, Lorenzen earned his 12th save of the year, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Lorenzen has delivered 16 straight saves dating back to 2012.
USC had a 2-0 advantage after scoring solo runs in back-to-back innings. In the second, back-to-back doubles gave USC a 2-0 advantage as Swick led off the inning with a double to left, and scored as Lacey followed with a double over the reach of Lorenzen in center field.
Timmy Robinson doubled the Trojans' lead to 2-0 leading off the third, driving the first pitch Gauna delivered over the left wall. It was the first home run of Robinson's career.
Lacey finished the game with a 3-for-4 effort, driving in two runs, while Stahel (2-for-4) also finished the night with multiple hits.
Jefferies (2-for-2) was the only Titan with multiple hits.
Notes: Currently with a record of 29-4, Fullerton's start is the best for the program since the 1996 squad opened the year 31-2…Michael Lorenzen's reached base streak is now at 22 games, and he hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season… the Titans have hit back-to-back home runs for the second time in in 2013, the first Michael Lorenzen and Anthony Hutting vs. Pacific on March 30 at Goodwin Field… J.D. Davis' grand slam was the fourth of the year for the Titans and the second of the year for Davis (first at CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 17)…the Titans last grand slam was Michael Lorenzen vs. Pacific on March 30…the Titans overcame a two-run deficit for the fourth the time this season…Fullerton scored at least five runs in an inning for the eighth time in 2013…Michael Lorenzen's 28 career saves rank fourth all-time...the Titans finish 2013 3-0 against USC.