LOS ANGELES - Cal State Fullerton put up runs in the first four innings of the game, including an eight-run second that carried the Titans to a 14-7 victory Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.
The Titans (13-11) set a new season high in runs scored and put up their biggest inning of the season with eight runs in the second in the win over the Bruins (12-10).
Eight of the nine players in the Fullerton starting lineup tallied hits on Tuesday night. Dalton Blaser, Josh Vargas and Coby Kauhaahaa all had two hits with Blaser blasting his second home run in as many games, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Blaser also finished with three runs scored and three RBIs while Tanner Pinkston, Turner Buis, Kauhaahaa and Hank LoForte each drove in a pair.
Gavin Velasquez picked up the first win of his career as he tossed one and 1/3 innings of hitless relief. He struck out one.
For the Bruins, Jake Bird took the loss on the mound as he surrendered seven runs, six earned, on three hits, three walks and two hit batters in an inning and 1/3.
Daniel Amaral scored three runs for the Bruins after coming into the game as a pinch hitter and Sean Bouchard was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Fullerton took the lead in the first inning after Pinkston singled up the middle with two outs and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Buis, making his second start of the season, worked the count full against Bird and then smacked a double the other way to bring in Pinkston and make it 1-0 Fullerton.
In the second, the Titans broke the game wide open, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring eight times. Jerrod Bravo led off with a walk and then Vargas singled. Another walk loaded the bases and then Hank LoForte drove in the first run with an RBI groundout to first. Richards walked to load the bases again and then back-to-back hit by pitches to Hurst and Pinkston brought in two more runs. Buis then laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher but it was mishandled and everyone was safe, bringing in another run. Blaser then delivered the big blow, smashing a double to the gap in right to bring in two more. The Titans led 9-0 when all was said and done and they would cruise to victory from there.
The Titans will open up Big West Conference action this weekend as they welcome CSUN to Goodwin Field for a three-game set beginning Friday night on ESPN3.
Notes: The last time the Titans scored eight runs in an inning was on April 26, 2014. Fullerton scored eight times in the sixth inning against Hawai'i at Goodwin Field en route to a 17-4 win… Fullerton is now 8-2 when scoring in the first inning and 10-2 when scoring first… The Titans committed three errors on Tuesday, a season high… Both teams used seven pitchers apiece and combined to walk 13 batters while striking out just six.
