COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Cal State Fullerton Gets Fifth Straight Victory

Mark Kotsay drove in three runs and Ruben Hernandez added a key two-run double as Cal State Fullerton, the top-ranked baseball team in the nation, beat Gonzaga, 7-2, in a nonconference baseball game Sunday at Fullerton.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Titans (20-3), who beat Gonzaga, 8-6, Friday. Saturday’s game was rained out.

Gonzaga scored single runs in the second and third innings to tie it, 2-2, but Kotsay hit a two-run home run in the third to put the Titans ahead, 4-2. The home run, his fifth of the season, came after Tony Miranda started the inning with a single.

Kotsay, one of the main reasons for Fullerton’s success so far, also had a double. He was two for four Sunday, improving his batting average to .444. For the season, he has 27 runs batted in, five stolen bases and a slugging percentage of .744. Fullerton is hitting .332and has outscored opponents, 183-89.

Kotsay also has been impressive as a relief pitcher. He has six saves and has not allowed an earned run in 8 2/3 innings.

But he wasn’t needed in relief Sunday as the Titans scored three runs in the eighth to take a 7-2 lead.

Brian Loyd started the inning with a single and moved to second when D.C. Olsen walked. Joe Fraser bunted toward third baseman Matt Brunell, who threw past first base for an error. Loyd scored, Olsen went to third and Fraser took second on the play. Hernandez followed with a pinch-hit two-run double.

Fullerton had 10 hits, including doubles by Kotsay, Hernandez, Miranda and Tony Martinez. Miranda and Olsen also scored two runs each.

Tim Dixon (5-0) allowed nine hits and two runs, both earned, in six innings for the victory. Ted Silva allowed no hits and had three strikeouts over the final three innings for his second save.

The Titans travel to Loyola Marymount for a 2 p.m. game Wednesday, then start a three-game home series against Cal Poly Pomona at 7 p.m. Saturday.

In nonconference women’s tennis:

Colorado State 5, UC Irvine 4--Host UC Irvine (1-8) split in singles but lost two of three doubles matches. Janet Johnson won at No. 1 singles, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5, Antje Fritschi won at No. 2, 7-6, 6-3, and Rachel Buenviaje won, 6-3, 7-5, at No. 6 for the Anteaters.