The Cal State Fullerton baseball team improves its overall record to 17-11 with a 4-2 win over the Toreros. The Titans will head out to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a three-game Big West series against the Mustangs (17-10 overall) on Friday.
(Patrick Do/Daily Titan)
Coming off a sweep of the Cal State Northridge Matadors, Cal State Fullerton baseball continued its success Tuesday night against the San Diego Toreros, winning 4-2 and improving its overall record to 17-11.
Going into Tuesday’s game, infielder Tanner Pinkston led the team in runs scored and runs batted in with 22 and 18, respectively. Senior outfielder Dalton Blaser has also been formidable offensively, leading the team in batting average at .352 and coming in second to Pinkston in RBIs with 15.
On the San Diego side, Ryan Kirby has been the biggest weapon offensively, going into this game with a .366 BA and 29 RBI. Sophomore catcher Riley Adams has also put up impressive numbers with 37 hits, 29 runs scored and 20 RBIs.
The Titans effectively did not have a starter on Tuesday night, as Head Coach Rick Vanderhook predetermined the outings in order to give his lesser-used pitchers some action. By the end of the game, the Titans had sent six pitchers to the mound, including two regular starters, Blake Quinn and John Gavin.
“Every game is important,” Vanderhook said. “We want to win every game that we play and we have some that we thought we should’ve won earlier that we didn’t win, so we’ll take every win we can get, and that’s our goal.”
The Titans failed to take advantage of several scoring opportunities early, as they left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings.
The Toreros countered with three hits in the top of the third, including an RBI single by designated hitter Riley Adams.
Fullerton struck in the bottom half of the inning with a double down the right-field line by designated hitter Dalton Blaser. The Titans then worked back-to-back walks that sent Torero starter Jonathan Teaney to the dugout early. Fullerton left the bases loaded as outfielder Scott Hurst struck out swinging.
Tyler Stieb singled with two outs to spark the Titans’ fourth-inning scoring drive. Pinkston then sent a base hit to the gap in left center, scoring Steib to put the Titans up 2-1.
In the top half of the seventh, San Diego outfielder Kevin Collard hit a solo home run off of Blake Workman, tying the score at 2-2.
Fullerton responded in its half of the seventh as Blaser hit his second double of the night. Chris Hudgins followed up with single, causing a throwing error by the Torero shortstop that sent Blaser home.
Fullerton added an insurance run as outfielder Josh Vargas scored from third on a passed ball, sealing the 4-2 victory for the Titans.
“(These games) are huge for us, we want to take wins wherever we get them,” Blaser said. “It’s a confidence booster for our pitchers.”
The Titans will head up the coast for a three-game conference series against the Mustangs of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with the first game beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. at Baggett Stadium.
“You need confidence going into conference,” Hudgins said. “You really need confidence boosting with everyone on the team and the pitching staff.”