Fullerton, Saarloos Hang On to Win, 9-5

Cal State Fullerton, ranked ninth in the country, survived a late Sacramento State rally and beat the Hornets, 9-5, in a Big West Conference baseball game Friday in Sacramento.

The Titans were leading, 7-2, in the eighth when Sacramento State (17-21, 1-4) scored three times off Titan starter Kirk Saarloos.

Tim Maghan led off the inning with a home run and Cory Williams hit a two-run shot with one out.

Chad Cordero replaced Saarloos with two outs and went the final 1 1/3 innings without giving up a hit to earn his fifth save of the season.

Saarloos (9-2), who pitched a no-hitter against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in his previous outing five days earlier, got the victory despite giving up five earned runs and nine hits, both season highs.

Robert Guzman hit a two-run home run in the sixth, his first of the season, and had three RBIs for the Titans (25-10, 5-0). Brett Kay also had three RBIs for the Titans.

The teams play again at 1 today.

In Big West Conference softball:

Cal State Fullerton 2-8, Pacific 0-0--Jodie Cox (16-4) pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the first game, earning her ninth shutout for Fullerton (38-10, 11-0).

In the second game, Monica Lucatero hit a three-run home run for the Titans in a game shortened to six innings because of the mercy rule.

Pacific is 37-9, 8-3.

In Big West men’s tennis:

UC Irvine 4, UC Santa Barbara 3--The doubles teams of Chris Ma-Jon Endrikat and Greg Biorkman-Wkwesi Williams each won their sets to clinch the victory for visiting UC Irvine (9-9, 3-0).

UC Santa Barbara is 5-14, 1-2.

In Big West women’s tennis:

Long Beach State 6, CS Fullerton 1--Sisters Anastasia and Alena Dvornikova won their singles matches and combined for a doubles win for Long Beach State.

In Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball:

UC Irvine 3, Pacific 2--Erick Helenihi had 22 kills for eighth-ranked UC Irvine, which defeated No. 10 Pacific, 30-28, 18-30, 35-33, 26-30, 15-13, in Stockton. The Anteaters (13-12, 8-9) beat fifth-ranked Stanford on Thursday in three games.