SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton scores in seven of nine innings leading to a season-high 16 runs to cruise to a 16-2 win over Cal Poly in the series opener Friday night at Baggett Stadium.
Along with a season-high 16 runs, the Titans (13-13, 2-2) tied a season-high with 21 hits in game one of the series. It is the fourth time this season Fullerton has scored double-digit runs and the 12th time they have recorded double-digit hits.
Even with a commanding 9-2 leading the Titans didn't let up as they tacked on six runs in the eighth inning and one more run in the ninth inning against Cal Poly (12-15, 3-1).
The Titans scored early and often, putting up two runs in each of the first four innings. Isaiah Garcia got the scoring going in the first inning for the Titans with a RBI single through the left side to score Mitchell Berryhill. Daniel Cope then singled through the right side to give Fullerton a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
Garcia was right back at it in the second inning as he had a 12 pitch at-bat before hitting a single to center field, scoring Berryhill and LoForte to give Fullerton a 4-0 lead after its half of the second inning while picking up his second and third RBI of the game.
Garcia went 3-for-6 at the plate with three RBI and one run. Berryhill also had an impressive game as he went 4-for-6 with three runs. Brett Borgogno recorded a career-high four hits on the night along with one RBI as he went 4-for-6.
Cope was stellar in the series opener against the Mustangs, going 2-for-3 with three walks, three RBI and three runs. AJ Curtis was stellar as well as he went 3-for-6 with three runs.
Following a walk from Cope and a single from AJ Curtis, Borgogno singled to left field to advance the runners to second and third before a fielding error from the left fielder allowed Cope to reach home safely and extend the Titans lead to 6-0 after three innings.
Fullerton got off to a good start again in the fourth inning with a leadoff a triple from Kameron Guangorena. One batter later, Cope grounded out but recorded his second RBI of the game on a hard hit ball to the shortstop. Later in the inning, Curtis was able to score from third on a failed pickoff attempt from the Cal Poly catcher to give Fullerton a 8-1 lead heading into the bottom half of the fourth.
The Titans made the Cal Poly pitching staff work all night as they were able to knock the Mustangs starter, Jarred Zill, out of the game after just two innings. Zill gave up five hits and four runs (three earned) in two innings on 67 pitches. The Mustangs used a total of six pitchers Friday night, pitching a total 239 pitches.
Tanner Bibee had another strong start on the bump for the Titans, moving to 4-4 on the season after pitching seven inning while allowing just two runs on six hits and striking out three Mustangs. Titus Groeneweg finished the final two innings of the game for Fullerton, allowing just one hit.
Fullerton returns to action Saturday night against Cal Poly in a nationally televised game that will be aired on ESPNU with first pitch scheduled for 8:00 p.m. PT.
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