No Stopping Titan Batters in 23-8 Pounding of Aggies

Cal State Fullerton scored 13 runs over the final three innings and defeated New Mexico State, 23-8, in a Big West Conference baseball game Thursday in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Titans (17-8, 7-0) held a 10-8 lead going into the top of the seventh, then moved ahead by three on David Bacani’s run-scoring double. Fullerton added three runs in the eighth on a two-run double by Mike Martinez and a sacrifice fly by Chris Stringfellow.

The Titans added nine runs in the ninth as New Mexico State committed three of its five errors. Craig Patterson and Bacani had two-run doubles in the inning.

Fullerton took a 5-0 lead in the second inning on a leadoff home run by Aaron Rifkin, followed by a three-run shot by Martinez.

Fullerton pushed the lead to 8-1 in the third inning on a two-run double by Bacani, the first of his three doubles.

New Mexico State answered with five runs in the third when Fullerton starter Adam Johnson walked three batters and gave up a run-scoring single before designated hitter Casey Crume hit a grand slam.

The Aggies then tied the score in the fourth on a two-run double by Chad Dias.

The Titans came back with two runs in the fifth. After Stringfellow and Bacani walked, Steve Woodward singled in a run and Bacani then scored on a wild pitch

Johnson (4-1) left the game after six innings and George Carralejo held New Mexico State to one hit over the final three innings.

Bacani finished with six RBIs and Mike Martinez had four for the Titans. Shawn Norris, Martinez and Stringfellow scored four runs each.

In nonconference baseball:

The Master’s 6, Vanguard 0--Josh Higgins and Josh Wood combined on a five-hit shutout and Jeremy Griffin hit a two-run home run for visiting The Master’s.