Cal State Fullerton baseball began Big West Conference play on a high note as it took all three games against the Cal State Northridge Matadors this past weekend. The Titans improved their overall record to 16-11.
(Patrick Do / Daily Titan)
In its first conference series of the season, Cal State Fullerton baseball pulled off a sweep over the CSUN Matadors, leaving the weekend with a spotless Big West record and a 16-11 record overall.
Despite the triumph, the dramatic series was anything but three relaxing days at the ballpark.
“You hate but you love Titan baseball games,” said senior designated hitter Dalton Blaser. “It keeps you on your toes”
In Friday’s game, Josh Vargas hit a triple that sent three runs home and propelled the Titans’ lead to 7-3 after the Matadors tied the game in the eighth.
On the mound, starter Blake Quinn struck out seven through 4.1 innings, contributing to a combined 12 strikeouts by Titan pitchers.
CSUN scored one run in the ninth, but the Titans held on to secure the 7-4 win.
Saturday’s game was a closer contest as Fullerton managed to come away with a 2-1 win.
At the top of the fifth, right-handed starter ConnorSeabold gave up a single and pegged two batters to load the bases. He went on to strike out RBI leader Branden Berry and the following Matador hitter to end the threat.
“Those were two huge strikeouts against their three and four hitters,” said junior Timmy Richards. “It was awesome to watch, it got me pretty pumped up out there at shortstop.”
Seabold went six innings, striking out eight and allowing only one CSUN run.
With starter John Gavin making a solid first outing in relief this season, the Titans kept Northridge at just one run.
The Titans’ prowess on the mound proved to be crucial in securing the victory, considering the offense left a runner on base in all but one inning and left 11 on base in total.
“One-run games are huge,” Richards said. “To be able to win those games will definitely pay off later in the season.”
Game three began in a different fashion, but ended in another Titan win.
With two outs and Berry on first, Justin Toerner homered to right, giving the Matadors a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The CSUN lead didn’t last long, however, as the Titans knocked in three base hits to tie the game in the second.
“We had a good plan against the (CSUN) starter, so we stuck to our plan and put a couple runs on the board,” Blaser said.
Fullerton continued to dominate the Matador pitching in the third, sending all nine Titans to the plate in the five-run third inning.
“You’ve got to swing it to hit it,” CSUF Head Coach Rick Vanderhook said. “They were just better pure at-bats (in Sunday’s game).”
Despite giving up three home runs, Titan starter Colton Eastman picked up the win and struck out seven. In the sixth, Eastman struck out the two, three and four-spot Matador hitters in order.
Fullerton won the game 8-5 and secured the sweep in its first conference series.
“It’s good to start conference the way we have so far. Obviously, it all matters when you get to conference,” Seabold said. “I think we have good momentum right now.”
The next challenge for the Titans is a one-game matchup against the University of San Diego on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field.