FULLERTON, Calif. - Dalton Blaser was one of three players with three hits and left-hander John Gavin struck out a career-high eight batters as Cal State Fullerton walloped San Diego State 8-1 Tuesday night at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (10-6) have now won four straight games for the second time this season after outslugging the Aztecs (4-12), pounding out five doubles and 11 hits overall.
Blaser set a new career high with four RBIs on the night and had his second three-hit game of his career, both coming this season. Taylor Bryant was also 3-for-4 with three runs scored and freshman Ruben Cardenas had a career day, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two doubles.
Timmy Richards and Dakota Wix had the other two hits for the Titans on Tuesday.
Gavin gave up a leadoff home run to start the game as Aztecs second baseman Justin Wylie belted a 2-0 fastball from the lefty and sent it up and over the scoreboard overlooking left-center field to put San Diego State up 1-0. But Gavin immediately settled down, retiring the next 10 batters in order, striking out half of them. He allowed singles in the fourth and fifth inning and walked one in the sixth nothing else. He would go six innings and struck out eight with one walk.
The Titans did not wait long to respond after giving up a run in the first, scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. Richards doubled to center to start the inning and then Dakota Wix laid down a bunt single to the left side of the mound to put runners at the corners.
Wix advanced to second on a wild pitch and then both runners advanced on a sacrifice fly from Chris Hudgins. Tanner Pinkston then grounded out to first and Wix beat the throw to the plate from Jordan Verdon to score and make it 2-1 Titans.
In the fourth, Bryant led off the inning with a double to the left field corner and advanced to third on an infield single. Cardenas then smacked his second double of the game to right-center to score Bryant and make it 3-1.
Fullerton added three more in the fifth on a two-run single by Blaser and a one-run single from Cardenas to make it 6-1 Titans and that would be more than enough for the Fullerton pitching staff.
Brett Conine, Dylan Prohoroff and Gavin Velasquez each pitched an inning of scoreless relief to close out the game with each pitcher recording one strikeout apiece.
Fullerton will finish off its season-long nine-game home stand this weekend when the Titans welcome Maryland to Goodwin Field for a three-game set, beginning Friday night at 7 p.m. when Blake Quinn takes the mound for the Titans while Mike Shawaryn will start for the Terrapins.
Notes: The Titans have now won 10 straight meetings against San Diego State and have not lost to the Aztecs at Goodwin Field since May 7, 1977, a 3-2 loss… Gavin's previous career high in strikeouts was seven, which he set against UC Santa Barbara on May 10, 2015… Blaser is the second player this season to drive in four runs in a game. Pinkston drove in four on Friday night against Wichita State… Hudgins six-game hitting streak and Scott Hurst's five-game hitting streak both came to an end on Tuesday night… Richards has now reached base in 10 straight games, tying Blaser for the most by a Titan this season… Blaser leads the team with seven multi-hit games and has two three-hit games. His last was on March 6 at Texas Tech.