SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Miles Chambers struck out Alex McKenna with the game-tying and game-winning run on base to secure Cal State Fullerton's 2-1 Big West Conference victory over Cal Poly Friday night at Baggett Stadium.
The Titans (18-11, 4-0) recorded their sixth straight win while handing the Mustangs their fourth straight loss.
With Fullerton up 2-1, Scott Serigstad got the first two outs of the inning on strikes but then allowed a pair of walks, bringing McKenna up to the plate. The Titans called on Chambers out of the bullpen and the right-hander fanned McKenna on three pitches to end the game.
The two relievers capped off an excellent night on the mound for Fullerton, which began with starter Connor Seabold. The sophomore righty picked up his third victory of the season, going six and 1/3 innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and struck out six. He held the Mustangs to one hit through six innings, retiring nine straight at one point.
Dalton Blaser extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jerrod Bravo was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Timmy Richards was 2-for-4 with a walk.
Kyle Smith took the loss on the mound for Cal Poly, allowing two runs on six hits in six and 1/3 innings of work. He walked two and struck out six.
After three scoreless frames, the Titans took the lead in the fourth inning. Bravo singled up the middle with one out and then advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches by Smith. Blaser then laced a single to right, his second hit of the game, to score Bravo and put Fullerton up 1-0.
The Titans made it 2-0 in the sixth inning as Tanner Pinkston led off with a walk. Bravo sacrificed him to second base. Blaser then stepped up and hit a grounder to short, where Kyle Marinconz booted it. The ball went toward shallow left center and Pinkston came in to score to put Fullerton up by a pair.
The Mustangs scored a run in the seventh after loading the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Kevin Morgan singled through the left side off Serigstad to cut into the Fullerton lead, making it 2-1. But Serigstad limited the damage as he struck out McKenna and then got Marinconz to fly out to left field to end the threat and keep Fullerton in front.
The teams are set to play the second game of the three-game set Saturday at 6 p.m. With inclement weather in the forecast, stay tuned to FullertonTitans.com and the baseball twitter accound, @BaseballTitans, for updates.
Notes: Pinkston went 0-for-4 on Friday night, snapping his seven-game hitting streak… Seabold is now 4-0 all-time in seven career Big West Conference games… Fullerton is now 13-2 when scoring first this season… The Titans improved to 5-7 this season in one-run games… Tristan Hildebrandt went 1-for-3 on the night. His hit snapped an 0-for-19 slump for the Fullerton infielder… The Titans six-game winning streak is a season high. They have now won seven straight Big West Conference games dating back to last season. They've won four this season after winning the last three conference games of the 2015 season… Fullerton has now won nine straight Big West road games dating back to last season. They won the last eight conference road games of 2015, winning the last two games of the series at UC Davis followed by sweeps at UC Riverside and Hawai'i.