SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Senior pitcher Kirk Saarloos endured his worst outing of the season but was still strong enough to lead No. 9 Cal State Fullerton to a 9-5 win over Sacramento State Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.

The victory was the Titans'' 11th in a row and lifted their record to 25-10 overall and 5-0 in the Big West Conference. The Hornets, who have lost 11 of their last 13, fell to 17-21 overall and 1-4 in league games.

After freshman Chris Kinsey struck out the first two batters of the game, Cal State Fullerton took advantage of a pair of walks and a single by Brett Kay to post a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Sacramento State responded in the bottom half of the inning when Aurelio Jackson hit Saarloos'' first pitch into center field. Jackson then stole second base and moved to third on a sacrifice. The game was tied when Jackson scored on Saarloos'' first wild pitch of the season.

Neither team posted a run until the Titans scored one run in the fourth and two in the sixth. After the Hornets scored one run in the bottom of the fifth, CSF broke the game open with three runs in the sixth behind a two-run home run by Robert Guzman.

Sacramento State made the game interesting in the seventh when Saarloos surrendered a leadoff homer to Tim Maghan and a two-run shot to Cory Williams to make the score, 7-5. The second homer ended the day for Saarloos who improved to 9-2 with the win. The early exit, however, marked the first time that the right hander had not thrown a complete game since February 4. The five runs and eight hits he gave up were also season highs.

The Titans sealed the game in the ninth scoring a pair of runs. Guzman drove in one run with a single and Brett Kay hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Guzman.

Guzman, Kay, Jason Corapci and Mike Rouse each had a pair of hits for Cal State Fullerton. Each of Sacramento State''s eight hits were by different players.

Kinsey was dealt his second loss of the season. The Elk Grove, Calif., native threw 4.1 innings and allowed five hits and six walks. As a team, Sacramento State has now walked 23 over the past two games.

The two teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

WP - Kirk Saarloos (9-2)
LP - Chris Kinsey (0-2)
SV - Chad Cordero (5)

Kirk Saarloos, Chad Cordero (8) and Brett Kay, P.J. Pilittere (9); Chris Kinsey, Joey Robinson (5), Adam Rakela (6), Kurt Mendonsa (9) and Dave Lusk.

TOP HITTERS: CSF - Robert Guzman 2x6, HR, Jason Corapci 2x3, 2B, Brett Kay 2x4, Mike Rouse 2x4, 2B; SAC - Tim Maghan HR, Cory Williams HR.