Epstein’s 3 Homers Lift Titans

Cal State Fullerton and Nevada combined for 33 runs and 32 hits in the Titans’ 21-12 victory over the Wolfpack in a Big West Conference baseball game Friday at Peccole Park in Reno, Nevada.

Designated hitter Jake Epstein led the barrage for Fullerton (14-7, 4-0) by hitting three home runs in consecutive at-bats in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and driving in seven runs. David Bacani, Aaron Rifkin, Shawn Norris and Mike Martinez also homered as the Titans erupted for seven home runs after hitting only 16 in their previous 20 games.

Martinez’s three-run home run in the second inning was inside the park and opened the scoring for the Titans, who had 20 hits and led all the way. They scored six runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth.

Adam Johnson went six innings, giving up three runs and striking out nine, to get the win.

In another Big West game:

Long Beach State 9, Pacific 2--Jeff Leuenberger went seven innings, striking out 11 and giving up two runs on four hits for visiting Long Beach State (17-7, 5-2), which turned a triple play in the bottom of the eighth. Bobby Crosby had four hits and two RBIs for the 49ers.

In Golden West Athletic Conference baseball:

Concordia 8-12, Azusa Pacific 6-11--Center fielder Charles Chatman led the Eagles’ 20-run, 28-hit doubleheader outburst with three home runs and nine RBIs. Concordia is 18-13 and 9-10 in GSAC play. Azusa Pacific is 15-9, 8-6.

In the Sun West softball tournament:

Chapman 8, St. Benedict (Minn.) 1--Molly Beckett’s grand slam highlighted a five-run first inning for Chapman (16-6). Tiffany Hoskins (8-2) went the distance for the Panthers, striking out seven and walking one. Earlier, Chapman lost to Pacific Lutheran, 3-2.