Titans Suddenly Locate Offense, Pound Pacific

Cal State Fullerton, which was shut out by Pacific’s Dan Reichert in the opener of a three-game series, took its measure of revenge Friday night at Titan Field.

The Titans lashed back with 19 hits and coasted to a 17-3 victory over Pacific behind the pitching of junior right-hander Brian Tokarse (7-0). Tokarse gave up six hits in seven innings.

Fullerton improved to 19-14, 7-4 in the Big West, for today’s 1 p.m. deciding game of the series. Pacific fell to 20-14, 5-6 in the conference.

Three of the hits off Tokarse came in a two-run fourth inning, but by then the Titans had already built a 6-0 cushion.

“It seems like we come up with a ridiculous amount of runs every time I pitch lately,” Tokarse said. “It sure takes a lot of the pressure off me.”

Titan Coach George Horton was pleased with Tokarse and with the big leap the Titans made on offense after being held to six hits by Reichert on Thursday.

Catcher Mike Lamb and second baseman Nakia Hill led the way, each with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Lamb had three hits, including a home run. Hill had two hits, as did four other players, including Steve Chatham, who scored three runs.

“Last night was embarrassing, and I just wanted to be able to turn it around in this game,” Lamb said.

Lamb struggled more on defense than he did on offense Thursday.

“Lamb had an off night last night, but he had some tough blocks tonight and he handled them well,” Horton said. “And, obviously he had a good night on offense. It’s a tribute to him the way he came back. He caught more in character tonight.”

Horton also was pleased to see Hill have a good night at the plate. “He’s been struggling lately,” Horton said. “He had lengthened his swing, and it was hurting him in two-strike situations. He just needs to try to put the ball in play with two strikes.”

The Titans got rolling with two runs in the first. C.J. Ankrum and Chatham singled, and Lamb put down a perfect bunt that loaded the bases. Aaron Rowand doubled down the left field line, driving in both runs. Fullerton added two more in the second, then made it 6-0 in the third with Hill and Jerome Alviso getting key hits. A two-run homer by Lamb, his sixth of the season, highlighted a five-run Fullerton sixth inning.

Tokarse’s only trouble came after he gave up consecutive doubles to Eric Niheu and Tye Hanseen to open the fourth. “I got the ball up in that inning and I didn’t have the sharp slider that I had at other times in the game,” Tokarse said. Tim Baron came on in relief of Tokarse in the eighth, giving up two hits and one run in the final two innings.

In another conference game:

Long Beach State 4, Sacramento State 3--Winning pitcher Marcus Jones, formerly of Esperanza High, gave up four hits and two earned runs through eight innings, striking out 13 and walking none for the host 49ers (19-12, 10-1).

Toby Sanchez, a transfer from Rancho Santiago, had two hits and two RBIs for Long Beach and Chuck Lopez’s bunt single in the bottom of the eighth drove in Casey Martin to push the lead to 4-2. Long Beach’s Ara Petrosian struck out two in the ninth to earn the save.