The Hit Parade Continues for Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton’s hot hitting continued unabated Monday against Arizona State.

The Titans battered six Sun Devil pitchers for 15 hits and won their ninth consecutive game, 13-6, at Goodwin Field, one day after blasting Pacific with 30 hits in a 28-0 rout.

It was the first time this season Fullerton has scored in double digits in consecutive games.

The victory was the 15th in the last 17 games for Fullerton (23-10), which moved up to 14th this week in the Baseball America poll. Arizona State (22-12-1), ranked 15th, lost for the eighth time in its last 11 games.

Fullerton, which lost to the Sun Devils, 5-3, in an earlier meeting this season, was dominant this time with shortstop Mike Rouse and catcher Brett Kay leading the way. Rouse and Kay each went four for five with four runs batted in.

“I think we’ve turned the corner as a team now,” said Rouse, who had nine hits in 11 at-bats in the last two games and is batting a team-leading .364. “We’re buying into what the coaches have been telling us, and I think we’re all coming together.”

Kay had missed five weeks of the season because of a broken thumb on his throwing hand, but returned to the lineup against Pacific last Friday.

“I thought Brett would be more rusty as a hitter than as a catcher when he came back, but he’s really been on it,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “One thing I’ve learned about him is that he’s a tough out with runners on base.”

Kay said he, too, is pleased by how quickly he has regained his batting eye after the layoff.

“I feel as comfortable at the plate as I’ve ever been,” Kay said. “I’m seeing the ball really well. I thought it might take a while, but it’s been off the charts for me. I’m really excited. The thing I have to do now is get back in sync with the pitchers when I’m behind the plate.”

Horton said he also has been impressed with Rouse’s two-game surge.

“He’s always been a little bit of a streaky hitter, but he’s been very productive for us this season,” Horton said.

“All the guys have worked hard on their hitting. They’ve paid a lot of attention to detail. They’ve paid the price, and they’re deserving of this. We got the big hit today with guys in scoring position.”

The Titans scored two runs in the first. David Bacani doubled into the left-field corner, moved to third on Robert Guzman’s bunt single and scored on Jason Corapci’s sacrifice fly. Kay singled up the middle with two out to drive in Guzman.

Fullerton scored four more in the third for a 6-0 lead. Kay doubled off the wall in right center for one run after one-out singles by Corapci and Aaron Rifkin. Rouse’s single drove in two more. Rouse later scored on Chris Stringfellow’s hit.

Arizona State scored five runs in the fourth off relief pitcher Nick Lovato to cut the Titan lead to 6-5, but Fullerton came back with three runs in the sixth, on Kay’s two-run triple and Rouse’s RBI single.

As planned, the Titans used six pitchers. Freshman right-hander Wes Littleton (2-0) picked up the victory. Littleton started for the Titans and gave up only one hit in two innings. Sean Martin and Chad Cordero held Arizona State hitless in their two-inning stints. Cordero earned his fourth save.