Cal State Fullerton exploded for 21 hits, matching its season high, and scored twice in each of the first four innings en route to a 16-2 victory over Cal Poly in the opener of a Big West Conference baseball series Friday night inside Baggett Stadium.
Center fielder Mitchell Berryhill and third baseman Brett Borgogno both had four-hit games and left fielder Isaiah Garcia and first baseman Jairus Richards each added three hits for the visiting Titans.
Sophomore right-hander Tanner Bibee (4-4) evened his win-loss record thanks to all of the offensive support coupled with his quality start, allowing two runs and six hits over seven innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Titus Groeneweg added two scoreless frames to close out the game for the Cal State Fullerton.
With the win, the defending Big West champion Titans evened their overall mark at 13-13 and moved to 2-2 in conference games.
Cal Poly fell to 12-15 and 3-1, tied for first place with UC Irvine.
Cal Poly scored single runs in the third and fifth innings to avoid being shut out for the third time this season.
Sophomore right fielder Elijah Greene drove in both Mustang runs — a groundout to second base with the bases loaded in the third frame and a one-out single up the middle in the fifth.
Cal Poly’s seven hits were by seven different batters. Redshirt freshman second baseman Connor Gurnik had a double for the lone Mustang extra-base hit.
The loss went to Cal Poly senior right-hander Jarred Zill (2-5), allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits over two innings with five strikeouts.
Five Mustang relievers followed Zill to the mound. the most effective was freshman southpaw Chase Watkins as he gave up just one run and one hit over 3 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
Second game of the series will be played Saturday night at 8 o’clock in front of a national television audience on ESPNU. Mustang junior right-hander Bobby Ay (2-0, 2.97 ERA) will face Titan freshman righty Kyle Luckham (3-2, 5.28 ERA).
Sunday’s series finale starts at 1 p.m.
–Provided by Cal Poly
