Oborn’s Homer, Clutch Single Lead the Titans Past Loyola

Spencer Oborn hit a two-run homer in the first inning and had a run-scoring single in the seventh to lead visiting Cal State Fullerton to a 5-3 nonconference victory over Loyola Marymount Wednesday.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Titans (34-8), third-ranked in Collegiate Baseball.

Oborn broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh with a one-out single, which drove in David Bacani. Oborn then stole second and eventually scored on Aaron Rifkin’s RBI single.

Oborn drove in Bacani with his sixth homer of the year in the first off of Loyola’s James Clelland (0-1). Bacani added a sacrifice fly in the third.

Tommy Perez hit a two-run homer for the Lions (24-17) off Barry Hawkins in the fifth to tie the score. But Fullerton’s Marco Hanlon (2-0) came on in the sixth and pitched three scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Kirk Saarloos shut out Loyola in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

The Titans finished with nine hits. Loyola also had nine hits, led by Curt Fiore, who went four for five.

Fullerton returns to Big West Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at UC Santa Barbara starting Friday. The Titans (16-2 in conference) lead second-place Nevada by 4 1/2 games.