IRVINE, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton baseball dominated UC Irvine, 10-0, in its Big West opener Friday night at Anteater Ballpark. With the win the Titans improve to 7-7 on the year.
Friday night's shutout win is the first for the Titans over UC Irvine at Anteater Ballpark since April of 2007 when the Titans won 3-0.
The Titans jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first inning. Fullerton started the inning with three consecutive base hits by Carter White, Maddox Latta and Caden Connor to load the bases before a productive out gave the Titans their first run of the game.
With one out and runners on first and second, Nate Nankil blasted a three-run home run to left field to put the Titans up 4-0. For Nankil it is his first home run of the season and third of his career.
Crushed it! ��#TusksUp | @nankils619 pic.twitter.com/sdhRWjsuCn
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 18, 2023
Through 14 games this season the Titans have outscored their opponents 16-7 in the first inning.
Fullerton added to its lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI triple off the wall in left center field by Latta to bring home White from first base. Latta leads the team with seven extra base hits on the year after hitting the first triple of the year for the Titans. Latta had a great day for the Titans, going 4-for-5 with four runs and an RBI.
.@LattaMaddox puts the Titans up 5-0! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/QV3ZADNrV3
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 18, 2023
One batter later, Connor hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Latta and extended Fullerton's lead to 6-0. Connor went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs and three RBI.
In the third inning the Titans pushed their lead to 7-0 on an RBI single by Colby Wallace to score Cole Urman from second base. Urman had his best game of the year at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run.
Fullerton added two runs in the sixth on a two-out triple by Connor to drive in Latta. The Titans hit their first two triples of the season Friday night. Connor scored later in the inning on a throwing error by the Anteaters.
It's a good night for triples! #TusksUp | @Caden_Connor77 pic.twitter.com/M53J2hRB91
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) March 18, 2023
Tyler Stultz had a great start for the Titans, pitching seven shutout innings while allowing six hits and walking just one batter while striking out eight for the Titans first quality start of the year. Stultz improves to 2-1 on the year.
The Titans handed UC Irvine's David Vizcaino (2-1) his first loss of the season after he pitched just three innings, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits.
Fullerton looks to secure the series victory Saturday afternoon in game two of the series. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. PT.
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