FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton picked up its sixth straight win with a 6-0 shutout of UNLV Saturday night at Goodwin Field.
The Titans (24-13) tied their highest winning streak of the season by holding the Rebels (16-22) to just four hits on the night.
John Gavin picked up the win as he went seven strong innings, matching his career high. He scattered three hits and struck out five in the win. Gavin Velasquez pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts and Chad Hockin closed out the ninth.
Offensively, Tyler Stieb went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored to lead Fullerton. Josh Vargas did not pick up a hit but did drive in two runs and score once. Tanner Pinkston's seven-game hitting streak came to an end but he did walk and score a run, reaching safely for the 17th straight game. Jerrod Bravo also blasted his first career home run in the eighth inning.
Fullerton scored two runs in the first inning for the second straight game against UNLV. Vargas and Pinkston each got aboard via walks. Vargas stole third and, with one out, Timmy Richards smacked a double off the right field wall to bring in Vargas and make it 1-0. Scott Hurst followed with a single to right to plate Pinkston and make it 2-0.
The Titans made it 3-0 in the second as Tyler Stieb led off with a walk and stole second base. He was sacrificed over to third and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Vargas.
In the fourth, Coby Kauhaahaa, Stieb and Hank LoForte all singled to begin the inning with LoForte's driving in Kauhaahaa to make it 4-0. Stieb advanced to third and would score on a squeeze bunt by Vargas to make it 5-0.
Bravo's home run in the eighth capped off the scoring for Fullerton and the pitching did the rest as the staff retired 26 of the last 28 batters with Gavin retiring 20 of the last 22 he faced.
The Titans will look to complete the sweep Sunday afternoon as right-hander Blake Quinn gets the start for Fullerton while righty Dean Kremer goes for the Rebels. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Notes: Saturday was the Titans third shutout of the season… Fullerton had seven hits on the night and has pounded out 70 hits during its current winning streak… The Titans won six straight from March 29 to April 8 earlier this season… With two runs in the first, the Titans have now outscored opponents 22-8 in the opening frame of ballgames this year. They are now 11-3 when scoring in the first inning… Bravo's home run was the team's 17th of the season. The Titans are now 12-3 when hitting a home run in a game.