COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Herman’s Homers Help Titans Stop Arizona

Cal State Fullerton, in need of a pick-me-up, got one right from the start in a 7-2 victory over Arizona in a nonconference baseball game Friday at Amerige Park in Fullerton.

Fullerton had lost five in a row, including a 15-1 drubbing by Arizona on Thursday.

But Frank Herman hit a home run leading off the bottom of the first inning and Fullerton wasn’t headed after that. Herman, who came into the game hitting .154, added a two-run home run in the second and Fullerton led, 5-0.

“It’s a great feeling,” Herman said. “I was really pumped. I’ve been hitting the ball hard, but it’s been right at people.” Herman’s two home runs were Fullerton’s first two this season.

After Herman’s first-inning home run, Steve Sisco lined a single to left, Phil Nevin doubled to score Sisco and Matt Hattabaugh singled to score Nevin.

Trevor Rush singled and later scored on an error in the fourth and Herman walked and scored on another double by Nevin in the seventh for Fullerton, which had 10 hits and made no errors.

“In the first part of that ballgame,” Fullerton Coach Augie Garrido said, “that was the best we had swung the bats since we have been together. . . . Yesterday, Arizona had the momentum right from when they got off the bus. Today we did everything different. The entire team had a positive attitude.”

Sophomore right-hander Bill Fitzgerald (2-1) pitched Fullerton’s first complete game this season. He allowed 10 hits but was helped by three double plays. Arizona (6-4) had hit into 14 double plays already this season.

Fitzgerald struck out six and walked two. He also retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.

The teams conclude the three-game series today at 1 p.m.