Cullen, Persinger, Prescott help Titans rout Dirtbags, even Super Regional

Contagious was a word used by both teams to describe the Cal State Fullerton offensive outbreak in the Titans’ 12-0 baseball victory over Long Beach State to even the best-of-three Super Regional series on Saturday at Blair Field.

Local products Hunter Cullen, Dillon Persinger and Chris Prescott were among those who contributed to a 15-hit barrage for the winners (38-22).

Cullen, a senior right fielder out of Corona del Mar High who finished two for five, doubled in a run in a seven-run third inning that included eight Cal State Fullerton hits. He also scored twice.

Persinger, a junior first baseman who played at Fountain Valley High and Golden West College, drove in a run with a single in the third. The first-team All-Big West Conference performer also reached on an error and a walk, and his sacrifice bunt helped advance a two-run first-inning rally.

Prescott, who had one of four Cal State Fullerton hits in a 3-0 opening-game loss on Friday, singled in five at-bats Saturday, when all but one starter had at least one hit.

Junior catcher Chris Hudgins was three for five with a home run and four RBIs to pace the Titans.

“Once it gets rolling, it gets rolling,” said Cal State Fullerton senior shortstop Timmy Richards, who was three for four with two RBIs and three runs. “It was hit after hit after hit and it got contagious.”

Against senior Long Beach State starter Dave Smith, who entered with a Big West-best 1.32 ERA and had not allowed an earned run in 21 innings spanning his four previous starts, 17 of the first 23 Titans who faced the second-team all-conference honoree reached base.

Smith hit the first two batters on two pitches and was victimized by a dropped fly ball by center fielder Garrett Nelson – one of four Dirtbags’ errors – that led to one unearned run. Smith allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits over three innings. His ERA swelled to 2.77 and his record fell to 9-2.

“People ask ‘Why did Smith stay in so long?’” said Long Beach State Coach Troy Buckley, whose Big West champions fell to 42-19-1. “Truth is, we had one bullet in the gun and that gun was going to get used, and the bullet was going to get shot. If we were going to lose by four or by eight, he was going to have to eat some innings for us. There is no sense in losing the war by trying to gain an advantage in the battle.”

Fullerton junior starter John Gavin allowed seven hits in his first complete game, throwing 122 pitches. He is now 8-2.

Long Beach State junior right fielder Brock Lundquist, a former Fountain Valley High standout, was one for two and walked twice. He said afterward he will quickly forget Saturday’s setback.

“Today was tough,” Lundquist said of only his team’s second loss in eight games against Cal State Fullerton this season. “It is what it is. We’re flushing it and moving on to [Sunday, the series finale at noon]. I’m sure we’ll go out there and compete.”

Long Beach State junior Jeff Nellis, an OCC product, made an appearance as a pinch-runner in the fifth inning.

Cullen, Prescott and Lundquist have two hits apiece in the series, the winner of which advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

barry.faulkner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5