FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton built a four-run lead by the end of the second inning and it was more than enough as the Titans blanked UC Davis 10-0 in a Big West Conference win Friday night at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (19-13, 5-2) got multi-hit games from three players and held the Aggies (8-19, 1-6) to six hits on the night in the win.
Josh Vargas was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Tanner Pinkston was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Dalton Blaser also notched a pair of hits and scored twice as seven players recorded a hit on the night for Fullerton.
Connor Seabold went six innings and picked up his fourth win of the season. He scattered four hits and struck out four without issuing a walk. Miles Chambers and Chad Hockin combined for three innings of scoreless relief and allowed a hit apiece.
Fullerton jumped out in front with a run in the first after Vargas led off with single through the right side. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then stole third off pitcher Robert Garcia. Tanner Pinkston lofted a sacrifice fly to shallow left to bring in Vargas and give the Titans the early lead.
The Titan put up three more in the second inning as Blaser led off with a double and then Coby Kauhaahaa got a pop-fly double to put runners on second and third. Scott Hurst then ripped a double along the right-field line past the drawn in first baseman to bring in the two runs and make it 3-0. Hurst would advance to third on a wild pitch and then score on an RBI groundout by Tristan Hildebrandt to cap the scoring in the inning.
The Titans would add six more but would not need it as the Titans pitchers allowed just three runners to get into scoring position and just one to third base on the night.
Garcia took his second loss of the season for the Aggies as he allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits in six innings of action. He allowed three walks and struck out three.
The teams return to action Saturday night for game two of the series with left-hander John Gavin getting the start on the mound for Fullerton.
Notes: Pinkston reached base for the 12th straight game… Fullerton scored in the first inning for the 12th time this season. They are now 9-3 when scoring in the first inning and 14-3 when scoring first in a game… The Titans belted six doubles on the night… Vargas stole three bases on Friday night. It was the first time a Titans player has stolen three bases in a game since Michael Lorenzen swiped three against Nebraska on Feb. 16, 2013 in game two of a doubleheader at Goodwin Field. Vargas now leads the team with seven stolen bases on the year… The Titans are now 22-3 all-time against UC Davis at Goodwin Field.