SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Colton Eastman was superb as usual, but San Diego State was able to do just enough offensively, as the Aztecs hung on to defeat Cal State Fullerton 6-3 in the series opener at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Friday night.
For Fullerton (16-16) the loss snaps what was a season-long six-game win streak and drops its third straight road contest.
Eastman (3-2) took the tough-luck defeat, as he tossed 7.0 innings, surrendered three runs on six hits and fanned a career-high eight batters.
Offensively, Hank LoForte had himself a career game, as produced a career-best four hits, including a run scored, a triple and an RBI. The four-hit game was the first time a Titan had collected four hits in a game since Daniel Cope did it vs. Saint Mary's May 15, 2017.
Mitchell Berryhill went 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI, while Ruben Cardenas also picked up an RBI. Jace Chamberlin recorded a knock, Brett Borgogno went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
San Diego State struck first in this one, as it scored three runs off of four hits in the bottom of the first.
However, it didn't take long for the Titans to respond, as Fullerton struck for a run of its own in the top of the third. LoForte led off the frame with a knock through the right side, then Berryhill responded with his first career triple down the right field line to score LoForte to make it just a 3-1 deficit.
Fullerton had a golden opportunity to strike again in the fifth, as The Titans loaded the bases with no one out, thanks to a walk by Borgogno and back-to-back singles by LoForte and Berryhill. However, the Titans couldn't bring a run home.
However this same crew would get another shot in the seventh, and this time they'd come through. Borgogno delivered a single to left field to begin the seventh, before LoForte reached on an infield chopper to the pitcher for his third hit of the day. Berryhill then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third before Cardenas drove in Borgogno from third base with a sacrifice fly to left field to make it just a 3-2 deficit.
Unfortunately, the Aztecs put up their second three-spot of the game in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding 6-2 advantage.
The Titans did their best to battle in the top of the ninth, as Borogono came through with a single through the right side, before LoForte blasted his fourth hit of the game for an RBI triple into the right field corner to make it just a 6-3 ballgame. That's as close as the Titans would get.
The Titans aim to tie the series tomorrow at 6 pm PT.
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