FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Cade O’Hara’s grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning broke open a tight game and propelled Cal State Fullerton to a 9-3 victory over UC Riverside in Big West Conference baseball Saturday at Goodwin Field.

The win completed a three-game series sweep for the Titans, who evened their season record at 14-14. The Highlanders fell to 8-22.

For seven innings, the game was a tense, back-and-forth affair largely dictated by pitching and defense. UC Riverside built an early lead, scoring single runs in the second and fifth innings. An RBI single by Andrew Rivas in the second and a sacrifice fly by Jarren Sande in the fifth gave the Highlanders a 3-0 advantage.

Cal State Fullerton starter Dylan Smith settled in after the early trouble, working 4 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out five. The Titans began chipping away in the third against Highlanders reliever Ryan Higgins. A wild pitch brought home one run, and a sacrifice fly by P. Contreras cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Titans took their first lead in the fifth, capitalizing on key hits and aggressive baserunning. C. Kim’s RBI single drove in the go-ahead run, putting Fullerton ahead 4-3. UC Riverside answered immediately in the top of the sixth, as pinch-hitter Miles Scott delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 4-4.

From there, the bullpens took over. Brock Mayer provided two scoreless innings of relief for Fullerton, striking out three, while UC Riverside’s Marco DiGirolamo and Adrian Blanchet combined for 1 1/3 hitless frames to keep the game deadlocked.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, the Titans loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch, a fielder’s choice and two more hit batters. Facing reliever Matt Hudson, O’Hara stepped to the plate. The shortstop, who had been hitless in the first two games of the series, launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field for a grand slam, his first home run of the season. The blast turned a one-run contest into a 9-3 Titans lead and ignited the home crowd.

O’Hara finished the day 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, a breakout performance after his recent struggles. Andrew Kirchner also homered for the Titans, a solo shot in the sixth.

Mayer earned the win in relief for Cal State Fullerton. Hudson took the loss for UC Riverside, which outhit the Titans 9-8 but stranded nine baserunners.

The victory extends Cal State Fullerton’s winning streak to three games as they prepare to host UCLA on Tuesday. UC Riverside looks to rebound Tuesday at San Diego State.