RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton clinched its seventh consecutive weekend series with a 13-1 victory over UC Riverside Saturday night at The Plex.
Fullerton improves to 18-11 on the year and 11-3 in Big West play to take a half game lead over UC San Diego for first place in the conference.
Zach Lew got the Titans off to a great start with his first career grand slam in the top of the first inning. Lew now has two home runs this season and six for his career.
Zach Lew Grand Slam! #TusksUp | @zachlew20 pic.twitter.com/0NuYauDdHx
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
Fullerton extended its lead in the top half of the second inning on an RBI single by Carter White to drive in Jack Haley from second base. White went 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI to extend his hit streak to 24 games and on-base streak to 27 games.
What else can we say about Carter White? #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/JaDoqZqd11
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
The Titans went scoreless from the third to seventh inning before scoring two runs in the eighth and six runs in the ninth to secure a commanding 13-1 win.
Fynn Chester kept Fullerton in control of the game from the mound, allowing just one run (none earned) on five hits in eight innings pitched. Chester didn't walk a single batter in eight innings while tying a career-high with eight strikeouts. With the win, Chester improves to 5-0 on the season.
With the bases loaded in the eighth inning Colby Wallace hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Caden Connor and extend the Titans lead to 6-1. With two outs, Jack Haley hit a double to left field to bring home Lew and make it a 7-1 Titans lead.
T8 | @jackhaley25 makes it a 7-1 game! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/25syNBWTXj
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
Fullerton blew the game open in the top of the ninth inning with six runs on five hits. With runners on first and third and no outs, Caden Connor hit an RBI double to left center field to bring home White and Nate Nankil to put the Titans up 8-1.
Caden drives in two! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Ngom1iio68
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
One batter later, Lew doubled to right center field to drive in Connor and extend the lead to 9-1. Lew had a season-high three hits in four at-bats with a season-high five RBI while tying a season-high with three runs.
Lew with his 5th RBI of the evening! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/MWIcyHDx8T
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
After a Cole Urman base hit and a walk by Wallace loaded the bases, Haley was hit by a pitch to drive in another run. JT Navyac then hit a two-run single through the left side of the infield to extend the lead to 13-1.
JT! #TusksUp | @jtnavyac pic.twitter.com/Rpah0CAoZf
— Titans Baseball (@FullertonBSB) April 16, 2023
The Titans are back in Riverside Sunday afternoon for game three looking to sweep the series. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. PT.
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch home contests exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for Titan Athletics. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.
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