HONOLULU - Jake Jefferies had a pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh inning to put Cal State Fullerton up for good in a 4-2 Big West Conference victory over Hawai'i Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Jefferies stepped up with the bases loaded in the seventh and chopped a two-run single down the left-field line and past the diving third baseman to break a 2-2 tie. It was Jefferies' first hit since May 2 when he went 1-for-2 in the Titans 19-0 win at UC Riverside. It was also his second game-winning hit of the season, the last coming on March 6 against then No. 5 Texas Tech at Goodwin Field.
Jefferies' hit was one of nine hits collected by the Titans (30-22, 15-5) on Saturday night. Josh Vargas and Tyler Stieb each had two hits with Josh Estill, Timmy Richards, A.J. Kennedy adding a hit apiece against the Rainbow Warriors (21-28, 12-11).
The starting pitchers each had solid outings but did not factor into the decision. John Gavin went five and 1/3 for the Titans and gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Tyler Brashears went six innings for the Rainbow Warriors and allowed two earned runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out two on the night.
Miles Chambers got the win in relief for Fullerton, going one and 2/3 innings and allowing one hit. He walked one and struck out one. Tyler Peitzmeier picked up his 14th save of the year, going two innings and allowing one hit with one strikeout.
Neither team could get much going offensively through the first four innings, but the Titans finally broke through in the fifth. Jerrod Bravo led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dalton Blaser grounded out to the right side to move Bravo over and then Richards doubled to right to bring in Bravo and put the Titans up 1-0.
Bravo has now reached base in 34 straight games he has played.
With Kennedy at bat, Richards stole third but Kennedy hit a shallow fly to right field and the Titans shortstop had to hold at third. Taylor Bryant would draw a two-out walk and then Vargas came through with a double to center field to plate Richards and put Fullerton up 2-0.
The lead was short-lived as the Rainbow Warriors finally got on the board for the first time in the series in the sixth inning. Senior Kaeo Aliviado led off the frame with his fifth home run of the season after getting ahead in the count 3-1 against Gavin. One out later, Eric Ramirez singled and that marked the end of the night for Gavin. Chambers came in to pitch in relief and got Matt Miller to hit his first pitch of the game to short for a double-play ball. But Richards took the ball off the chest and everyone was safe on the error. Chayce Ka'aua followed with a single to shallow left to load the bases.
The Titans almost got out of it as Jonathan Weeks hit a chopper to third base. Bravo touched the bag for the first out but his throw just pulled Pinkston off the bag at first and the tying run scored.
Fullerton would respond in the seventh as pinch-hitter Josh Estill led off with a single up the middle. Richards laid down a sacrifice bunt but reliever Andrew Jones' throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and everyone was safe. Kennedy followed with a bunt-single to third to load the bases and Jefferies came through with what turned out to be the game-winning hit.
The Titans will look for the sweep on Sunday night as they send freshman Connor Seabold to the bump for his first career weekend start while the Rainbow Warriors counter with left-hander Jarrett Arakawa.
Notes: The Titans locked up their 41st straight 30-win season with Saturday night's victory… David Olmedo-Barrera's 12-game hitting streak was snapped as he went 0-for-5.
