Titans Wait Out Rain Then Beat San Diego

The game had been postponed on two different days because of rain, and it was a chilly 50 degrees when it finally began Wednesday night at Titan Field. The temperature dipped into the low 40s by the time it was over.

But none of that mattered to Cal State Fullerton.

A team on the way to its 27th victory in 30 games doesn’t sweat the small stuff, and the seventh-ranked Titans made it look easy in a 15-2 victory over San Diego.

Fullerton (28-6) hit three home runs, and Spencer Oborn extended his hitting streak to 33 games with an RBI single in his first at-bat in the opening inning as the Titans tuned up for their first Big West Conference series against Long Beach State this season beginning Friday.

Oborn moved within five games of the conference and school record of 38, set by Brent Mayne in 1988. Oborn also singled in the fifth, driving in another run.

Ryan Owens was four for five, including a two-run homer in the seventh. It was Owens’ team-leading eighth homer of the season and gave him 15 hits in his last 29 at-bats.

First baseman Chris Beck also continued his hot hitting, going four for five with a walk. Beck has 15 hits in his last 31 at-bats.

Center fielder Reed Johnson ripped his seventh home run of the season in the fourth, and freshman Sean Bischofberger connected for a three-run homer as a pinch hitter in the sixth.

The Titans used six pitchers. Jordan DeJong (4-0) started and went two innings for the victory, giving up on one hit. San Diego (19-14) managed seven hits to 19 for the Titans.

“This was a great game to have going into the Long Beach series,” Owens said. “ I was really glad that we were able to get this game in. Everyone is hitting right now.”

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but had to be postponed until Wednesday, then delayed 4 1/2 hours because of more rain.

“We were a little mentally rusty in batting practice, so we needed this game,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “Our assistants did a great job of getting the field ready to play and our players helped too.”

Fullerton scored three times in the first inning to set the tone for the game. It marked the 23rd time in 34 games the Titans have scored at least one run in the opening inning.

Leadoff batter David Bacani doubled and scored on Oborn’s base hit up the middle. Beck also singled, and Oborn scored from third when Torero catcher Alan Leuthard threw wildly to second on Beck’s steal. Beck came home on Ryan Owens’ hit.

Beck doubled and three walks forced in a run in the third, and Johnson’s homer made it 4-0 in the fourth.

Three more runs came across in the fifth. Shawn Norris singled in one run, another scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson, and Oborn drove in the third with his second hit of the game.

Norris started at shortstop to give Chad Olszanski a night off to rest an injured knee, but Olszanski is expected back in the lineup for the opener of the Long Beach series.