FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton pounded out 12 hits including three doubles to help the Titans complete the three-game Big West Conference sweep over CSUN, 8-5, Sunday afternoon at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (16-11, 3-0) used a five-run third inning to pull away from the Matadors (20-8, 0-3) despite surrendering three home runs to the visitors on the afternoon.
Scott Hurst led the way for the Titans as he went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, tying his career high. Dalton Blaser went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI and Jerrod Bravo was 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI and three runs scored.
Colton Eastman scored his fifth victory of the season despite allowing three home runs to the Matadors. He allowed five runs on four hits and struck out seven in seven innings of work. Rayne Raven took the loss for CSUN after going just two and 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits and a walk.
CSUN took the lead in the first inning, its first of the series, after Eastman hit Branden Berry with a pitch and then Justin Toerner blasted a 1-0 offering over the wall in right for a two-run homer, giving the Matadors a 2-0 lead.
Fullerton tied it in the second after Bravo led off with a hit by pitch and then Blaser followed with a single. A double play moved Bravo to third and Josh Vargas punched a single over a leaping Fred Smith at second base to bring in Bravo and make it 2-1. Hurst then smacked the first pitch he saw from Raven to left-center for a double and Vargas wheeled all the way around from first to score to tie the game.
Vargas finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI.
The Titans added three more in the third inning after Richards led off with a single and then Tyler Stieb drew a walk. Pinkston singled to drive in Richards and break the 2-2 tie and Jerrod Bravo followed with a bunt single along the first-base line, allowing Stieb to score and Bravo to reach when CSUN failed to cover first. One out later, Chris Hudgins doubled to left field to score Pinkston and make it 5-2, putting an end to Rayne Raven's day on the mound.
Reliever Carter Yankie then walked Josh Vargas and Hurst came up and laced a two-run single to put Fullerton up 7-2 and cap off the scoring in the inning.
In the fifth, Dylan Alexander smacked his first home run of the season off the scoreboard in left to make it 7-3 in favor of the Titans and then a two-run blast off the bat of Nolan Flashman in the seventh inning made it 7-5.
The Titans got one back in their half of the seventh on an RBI double by Blaser and then Scott Serigstad shut the door for Fullerton, going two scoreless innings to earn his first career save.
Fullerton will close out its four-game home swing against San Diego on Tuesday before heading back out on the road for a three-game set at Cal Poly.
Notes: Blaser extended his hitting streak to eight games on Sunday afternoon… Hurst had three RBIs in a game Feb. 27 of last year against Baylor… The Titans surrendered three home runs in a game for the second time this season. Maryland had three homers off Fullerton pitching on March 19, an 8-4 loss for the Titans… Fullerton is now 3-6 this season when the opponent hits a home run… The Titans are now 4-9 when the opponent scores first in a game this season… The 12 hits on Sunday tied the most by the Titans in a game this season. It's the fourth time Fullerton has recorded a dozen hits in a game this year.