FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Cal Poly built an early lead and held off a furious Cal State Fullerton rally in the seventh inning to win 7-6 Saturday at Goodwin Field, evening the Big West series.

The Mustangs improved to 28-21 overall and 13-10 in conference play, while the Titans fell to 21-26 and 10-13.

Second baseman Jake Downing paced Cal Poly with a 3-for-4 day, including a home run and four runs batted in. Downing, who drove in two runs with a fourth-inning homer and added a two-run single in the seventh, has now collected hits in three of his last four games. Right fielder Paul Contreras starred for Fullerton with a 2-for-3 performance that included a home run and four RBI, all but one of which came on a three-run blast in the seventh.

Cal Poly struck first in the third inning. Third baseman Alejandro Garza doubled and scored on a double by right fielder Dylan Kordic. The Mustangs added two more in the fourth when Downing homered to right center, plating shortstop Spiridonoff, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Fullerton got on the board in the bottom of the first. Left fielder Nolan Miller was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Contreras’ double down the left-field line.

After Cal Poly extended its lead to 4-1 in the sixth on an RBI single by shortstop Nate Castellon, first baseman Andrew Kirchner answered for Fullerton with a solo home run to right center in the bottom of the inning, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

The Mustangs appeared to break the game open in the top of the seventh. Kordic singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by first baseman Ryan Hoiland. After a single by left fielder Tyler Spiridonoff, Downing delivered a two-run single up the middle, giving Cal Poly a 7-2 lead.

But Fullerton mounted its comeback in the bottom of the seventh against the Cal Poly bullpen. Right fielder Bryce Beeson walked, catcher Cole Burdick walked and both advanced on a failed pickoff attempt by Mustangs reliever Nick Bonn. After a walk to Miller loaded the bases, Contreras crushed a 3-run homer to left center, scoring Beeson, Burdick and Miller, and suddenly the Titans trailed 7-6.

With the tying run at first, Bonn settled down. He struck out left fielder Chris Kim, got Kirchner to ground out and induced a groundout from shortstop Erick Olazaba to end the threat.

Bonn worked the final three innings, striking out five while allowing two earned runs on no hits. He earned the save. Starter Carson Turnquist went six innings, giving up four earned runs — though no hits — while striking out two. Fullerton starter Bobby Mahoney took a no-decision after allowing three runs over four innings. Brock Mayer pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Cal Poly added an insurance run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly? No, they didn’t. Final score remained 7-6. The Titans brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth when Contreras was intentionally walked with two outs, but Kim grounded out to end the game.

Cal Poly outhit Fullerton 12-4. The Mustangs also executed two sacrifice hits.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday. Interstat’s game simulator projected a 6-2 Cal Poly win, and its ELO system gave the Mustangs a 58.50 percent probability of victory.