Titans Make a Powerful Statement

Cal State Fullerton hit three consecutive home runs in a six-run fifth inning Sunday at Titan Field.

It turned out to be the big lift the Titans needed for an 11-8 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a sweep of the three-game Big West Conference series.

“That was really cool,” said second baseman David Bacani, who started the home run parade with a two-run shot that hit high on the screen in left field. “It was a big momentum change.”

The first-place Titans (33-8, 16-2 in the conference) went into the fifth trailing, 4-2, but a two-run double by Robert Guzman tied it. Bacani’s home run put them ahead, 6-4.

Reed Johnson and Spencer Oborn connected for the other two home runs.

Johnson’s home run was his ninth of the season, giving him the team lead. Rick Vanderhook, who is in his 13th season as a Titan assistant coach, remembers the Titans also hitting three consecutive homers in a 1987 game against Nevada Las Vegas.

“We hit three in a row, their pitcher hit our next batter in the helmet, a fight broke out, then our next batter came up, and he hit another home run,” Vanderhook said, smiling.

All the homers against Cal Poly (17-21, 6-12) came off starter Mike Zirelli (7-3), who retired the Titans in order in the first three innings.

“Zirelli is a good pitcher, and he’s not a guy who normally leaves the ball up,” Johnson said. “But we showed good discipline, took the low pitches, and when he left one up, we hammered him. It was good that we were able to get him out of there that inning.”

Johnson, the Titan center fielder, had three hits, driving in four runs. Johnson had an RBI single in the fourth after Bacani doubled to lead off the inning. Johnson also had a two-run double in the sixth, and scored from third when Oborn beat out a bunt.

Titan starter Matt Sorensen (8-0) picked up the victory, but he missed the complete game despite striking out the first two batters in the ninth. Sorensen gave up a walk and three consecutive hits that produced two runs. He left giving up 12 hits in 8 2/3 innings.

Jordan DeJong took over, but he gave up another run on two hits before getting a strikeout for the final out with the bases loaded. It was DeJong’s first save of the season.

“It got really sticky there in the ninth,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “If that last batter hits one out we’re behind. But I was pleased that we got our offense back this weekend. We were headed the wrong way for about five games in a row. That was a good pitcher we beat today.”

The sweep enabled the eighth-ranked Titans to build their lead to 4 1/2 games over second-place Nevada with 12 conference games remaining.