FULLERTON, Calif. – Anthony Hutting's three-run blast on senior day gave No. 4 Cal State Fullerton a lead it would not relinquish en route to a 5-2 victory over No. 8 UCLA on Tuesday night.
With the win, the Titans (42-8) finish 2013 with a season sweep (2-0) of the Bruins (34-15).
UCLA took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Eric Filia's RBI fielder's choice allowed Brian Carroll to score from third. With starter Michael Lopez on the mound, the Bruins led off the game with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners.
But Hutting quickly erased the deficit and put the Titans in the lead, 3-1, in bottom of the first. After UCLA starter Cody Poteet retired Fullerton's first two batters, the Titans rallied with back-to-back two-out singles, setting up Hutting's fifth home run of the year with a shot hammered over the right field wall.
Cal State Fullerton senior Dave Birosak (1-0) was credited with his second career win after shutting out the Bruins for two and ½ innings, allowing just one hit in relief of Lopez.
In the third, Fullerton added a run to take a 4-1 advantage as Poteet loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks. Matt Chapman was able to score from third on Chad Wallach's RBI groundout.
UCLA cut Fullerton's lead to 4-2 in the fifth as Fullerton reliever Koby Gauna issued a leadoff walk to Shane Zeile. He moved into scoring position on a groundout and was able to score when Chris Keck dropped a single into left field.
The Titans added some insurance in the seventh as UCLA reliever James Kaprielian issued a one-out walk to Richy Pedroza, and he was able to move into scoring position on a groundout, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Chapman's two-out single roped into right field.
Poteet (3-6) was charged with the loss, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two in three and 1/3 innings.
In his first career start, Lopez allowed one run on two hits in one inning of work.
Tyler Peitzmeier tossed two and 1/3 innings of shutout relief, while J.D. Davis was on the mound for UCLA's final two outs of the eighth.
Michael Lorenzen earned his 16th save of the year, taking the mound in the ninth and allowing just a base hit.
Fullerton (6) and UCLA (5) combined for 11 hits, but the UCLA pitching staff issued five walks and hit one batter.
Fullerton returns to action on Friday at Goodwin Field, hosting a three-game Big West Conference series with UC Irvine, First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
Notes: Michael Lopez made his first career start on Tuesday night…Fullerton had seven of its eight seniors in the lineup (Pedroza SS, Carlos Lopez 1B, Hutting LF, Watkins DH, Orloff 2B, Kingsolver RF, Michael Lopez P)…the Titans are 13-5 when the opponent scores first…CSF has erased a one-run defeicit on 10 occasions in 2013...Fullerton has outscored opponents 57-14 in the first inning this year…Anthony Hutting hit his fifth home run of the year…Dave Birosak tossed a career best two and 1/3 innings in relief and recorded his second career win…the Titans sweep the two-game season series with UCLA.