Silva Settles In, Leads Titans to Victory in Season Opener

If pitching was the question for the Cal State Fullerton baseball team heading into Tuesday’s season opener against Cal Poly Pomona, Ted Silva had the answer.

Silva, the Titans’ relief ace last season, allowed one run and seven hits in eight innings, helping the Titans to a 7-1 victory at Titan Field.

“I had a little nervousness at first, but then relaxation kicked in and it was fun,” Silva said. “The most I ever pitched here was four innings. I enjoyed it today and the outcome was what I wanted.”

The Titans lost four starters who were responsible for 42 of the team’s 47 victories last season.

Silva, 4-4 with a 2.29 earned-run average and 13 saves last season as a sophomore, allowed a run on two doubles in the first inning. He finished with four strikeouts.

The Titans, ranked 15th by Baseball America and 16th by Collegiate Baseball, took the lead in the fourth Jeremy Giambi and Brian Loyd singled, advanced on a groundout by first baseman D.C. Olsen, and scored on right fielder Tony Miranda’s single.

Loyd hit a two-run double to key a four-run fifth for the Titans, who had 11 hits.

Miranda had three hits and two runs batted in and Giambi and Loyd each had two hits and scored twice. Titan reliever Mark Chavez allowed one hit and struck out two in the ninth.

Cal Poly Pomona fell to 0-2.

The Titans play host to No. 1-ranked Stanford (2-0) in a three-game series beginning Friday night.