RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton pounded out 15 hits and had five batters record multi-hit games in a 9-0 Big West Conference victory over UC Riverside Friday night at The Plex.
Josh Vargas led the Titans (24-20, 9-4) as he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. David Olmedo-Barrera was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored and one walk. Tanner Pinkston, Jerrod Bravo and Taylor Bryant also tallied two hits on the night.
Thomas Eshelman was superb on the mound, dominating the Highlanders' (13-30, 2-11) offense for seven scoreless innings. Eshelman scattered four hits and struck out seven.
The Titans got started right away as Vargas led off the game with single to left field and then advanced to second on an error by A.J. Sawyer. Scott Hurst sacrificed Vargas to third and then Olmedo-Barrera singled off the second baseman's foot to drive in the run and make it 1-0. Olmedo-Barrera then stole second and came in to score on Bravo's single to right field to give Fullerton the 2-0 lead.
In the second, Vargas ignited a two-out rally with a double down the right field line. After Hurst walked, Olmedo-Barrera drove in Vargas once again with a single through the right side to make it 3-0.
Eshelman did the rest as he retired 10 straight hitters including five-in-a-row by way of strikeout. He allowed just two hits after the first inning.
Chad Hockin and Shane Stillwagon each pitched an inning of scoreless relief to secure the win for the Titans.
The teams will return to action Saturday night at 6 p.m. as Justin Garza takes the mound for the Titans while the Highlanders will go with left-hander Kevin Sprague.
Notes: Eshelman struck out five straight batters spanning from the first inning to the third. He was the first Titans pitcher to strike out five straight since Tyler Peitzmeier fanned six in a row on opening night against South Florida… Pinkston recorded his first multi-hit game of the season on Friday night… Bravo has now reached base in 26 consecutive games… Timmy Richards went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and has seven hits in his last three games.
