In Fullerton’s first game against Wichita State on Friday, Timmy Richards recorded three hits, including two doubles, three runs and an RBI in the 9-1 win. The Titans went on to sweep the Shockers at Goodwin Field.
(Patrick Do / Daily Titan Stock Photo)
With a chance to earn its longest winning streak of the season, the Cal State Fullerton baseball team will face off against the struggling San Diego State University Aztecs on Tuesday.
The Titans had a relatively sluggish start to their season, barely breaking even with a 6-6 overall record in their first 12 games.
However, a 3-0 series sweep over the Wichita State Shockers this past weekend not only improved the Titans’ record to 9-6, but should also give them a heap of confidence going forward.
Offensively, Fullerton was firing on all cylinders, winning each game against the Shockers by five runs or more. The Titans’ best individual performance of the series came from senior infielder Tanner Pinkston on Friday as he belted one home run and recorded four runs batted in.
As a team, CSUF currently owns a batting average of .232 with senior outfielder Dalton Blaser leading the way. Blaser currently boasts a .341 average at the plate, including three RBIs.
Senior outfielder Josh Vargas, junior infielder Timmy Richards and sophomore catcher Chris Hudgins all lead the Titan squad in home runs with two apiece.
Fullerton’s pitching staff has been dominant, collectively recording an ERA of 1.98 with a grand total of 136 strikeouts. Freshman standout Colton Eastman has been spectacular on the mound, picking up a win in all four of his appearances this season with a 1.38 ERA.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold was named Big West Pitcher of the Week for his efforts during Saturday night’s game against Wichita State. In six innings, Seabold only allowed one hit and logged in six strikeouts, leading the Titans to a 5-0 shutout over the Shockers.
Despite a lowly 4-11 overall record, SDSU is coming off a 2-1 series win over Northwestern University (5-11 overall).
The Aztecs are slightly superior to the Titans in the batter’s box, as they have formulated a .276 batting average and total 63 RBIs, compared to CSUF’s 55. A large contributor to the Aztecs’ offensive charge has been Alan Trejo who has hit a whopping .394 average with 10 RBIs on the season.
SDSU’s Achilles heel, however, is its pitching, as the Aztecs currently own a dismal 5.57 ERA.
Fullerton’s offense needs to capitalize on driving in runs in scoring position, as that has been its most blatant issue all season.
The Titans look to keep their momentum alive as they host San Diego State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field.