FULLERTON, Calif. – The first game of the crucial University of Hawai'i (20-14, 6-4 BWC) Big West series at Goodwin Field went to Cal State Fullerton (18-18, 5-2 BWC) on Friday night, as the Titans claimed the upper hand in the middle innings and pitched their way to a 6-3 win.
 
Although the Rainbow Warriors tacked the first run on the scoreboard, the first five innings saw four lead changes before a fifth-inning Sahid Valenzuela RBI single moved the needle in CSF's favor for good.
 
The Rainbow Warriors opened the night against formidable starter Colton Eastman with back-to-back doubles, left fielder Johnny Weeks sending Maaki Yamazaki home on the RBI just two batters into the series.
 
After getting runners aboard with nothing to show for two straight innings, the Titans used an error and two consecutive hits to knot the game up, successfully risking a sacrifice squeeze for the 2-1 advantage.
 
Snapping a five-game hitting slump, sophomore right fielder Adam Fogel broke out at just the right moment, belting a two-run homer down the left field line for the 3-2 Hawai'i lead in the fifth.
 
However, the 'Bows wouldn't get much time to relish the lead. Helped to third by an error, LoForte came home to tie things up quickly on a Ruben Cardenas RBI single chopped through the infield, cutting short the evening for starter Jackson Rees. The Titans swung back in front as Valenzuela plated Cardenas for the go-ahead run, also in the bottom of the fifth. Daniel Cope expanded the advantage for the Titans in the seventh with a two-run homer for the 6-3 margin.
 
The 'Bows twice fell short on late rally attempts with relievers Blake Workman and then Brett Conine on the mound, stranding four runners in the final two frames.
 
In spite of the loss, the 'Bows racked up 11 hits off Eastman, who logged CSF's fifth program no-hitter three weeks ago and holds one of the league's top ERAs. Weeks hit 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI to lead the 'Bows. Both Kekai Rios and Dustin Demeter each hit 2-for-4, while Fogel was 1-for-4 with the homer.
 
Rees (3-1) took the loss on 4.1 innings, striking out five with three walks.
 
With the win, Cal State Fullerton edges ahead of Hawai'i for the current lead in the Big West standings. The Rainbow Warriors and Titans return to action on Saturday at Goodwin Field, with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. HT.