Titans Score 14 Runs in the Fifth, Pound Sacramento

It was Cal State Fullerton’s biggest one-inning outburst of the season.

The Titans blasted 14 runs in the fifth inning after being held scoreless early on in a 15-6 Big West Conference baseball victory over Sacramento State Saturday at Titan Field.

The Titans (21-11, 8-3 in the conference) batted around twice in the big inning and outfielders Pete Fukuhara and Reed Johnson each had three-run homers.

Fukuhara, who also had a two-run double, drove in five runs in the inning. Ryan Owens and Greg Jacobs each doubled and singled in the 11-hit splurge. Jacobs was three for three for the game, walking twice.

Johnson hit his second homer of the game to lead off the sixth inning. It was his fourth consecutive hit and fourth RBI. The Titans had 16 hits in the game that was delayed an hour by morning rain.

Fullerton’s victory evened the series at 1-1 for today’s rubber game at 1 p.m. Sacramento State fell to 14-18, 7-4 in the Big West.

Left-hander Benny Flores picked up his sixth victory of the season without a loss, giving up 10 hits and five runs in seven innings. Jason Stewart took over in the eighth and gave up two hits and one run in the final two innings.

“I think we were trying too hard until we finally got things going in the big inning,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “When that happened, you could see our players loosen up.

“Hitting is contagious. Once we got a few hits, we were able to keep it going. For a while, though, it seemed like everything that could go wrong went wrong.”

Fullerton stranded runners on third three times in the first four innings.

The Titans had the bases loaded with only one out in the first after Jacobs doubled and Hornet starter T.J. Harris (0-2) gave up two walks, but the Titans failed to score.

Jacobs also reached third in the third inning after a walk and two wild pitches, but he failed to tag up on Aaron Rowand’s line drive to right, and had to retreat to third.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times early in the game,” Horton said. “Flores pitched OK, but they’re a good hitting team. Our pitching, as a whole, isn’t as strong right now as it has been.”

Flores gave up a run in the second on two hits, and another in the third on two more hits and a walk. Sacramento State added two in the seventh and Flores didn’t return for the eighth.

Freshman Jon Smith, a weekend starter most of the season, still is sidelined because of a sore arm, and Horton said Jacobs, normally the designated hitter, is scheduled to start today’s game as Smith’s replacement in the rotation.

“Of the other guys we have available, Jacobs has had the best stuff lately,” Horton said.

Horton said several Titan players are below-par physically because of congestive flu. Second baseman David Bacani was ill Saturday and missed the game.