LA JOLLA, Calif. (Interstat) — Paul Contreras went 5 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs, and Cal State Fullerton defeated UC San Diego 10-5 on Saturday at UCSD Triton Baseball Field, snapping a two-game losing streak in the Big West series.

The Titans improved to 22 wins, 29 losses, while the Tritons fell to 24 wins, 26 losses.

Contreras, the designated hitter, set the tone in the first inning with a solo home run to deep center field, his 13th of the season. That gave the Titans a lead they never relinquished.

UC San Diego answered in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on fielder’s-choice groundouts from T. Ujimori and Anthony Potestio, both driven in by a walk, a hit batter and a pair of singles.

Cal State Fullerton regained control in the third. After Nick Miller doubled, Esteban Olazaba singled him home. Contreras followed with a single, and Zane Kirchner’s sacrifice fly brought in Olazaba to make it 3-2.

The Titans added a run in the fourth on Miller’s fielder’s-choice groundout, then another in the fifth when Cade Ortega’s groundout scored Contreras, who had doubled.

The pivotal moment came in the top of the sixth. Cal State Fullerton sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs. After singles from J. Burdick and Miller, Olazaba ripped a two-run single up the middle. Contreras followed with his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to deep right field, extending the lead to 8-2. Contreras had homered twice in a game for the first time since May 9, when he collected one home run and four RBIs against Cal Poly.

Dylan Smith pitched eight innings for the Titans, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and striking out four. He worked around early traffic and held the Tritons scoreless from the third through the sixth innings.

UC San Diego tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth. Allen led off with a solo home run, his seventh of the season. After a throwing error by second baseman Nick Miller, a sacrifice fly from Widelski brought in an unearned run, cutting the margin to 8-4.

Cameron Kim answered for Cal State Fullerton in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to left field, his fifth of the season, restoring the five-run cushion.

The Tritons mounted a final threat in the bottom of the ninth. After a hit batter, Potestio singled, and a sacrifice fly from Klepsch scored a run, making it 10-5. Andrew Wright entered in relief and retired Cameron Cam on strikes, then got Allen to fly out to center field to end the game.

Cal State Fullerton finished with 15 hits, including two each from Miller, Olazaba, Kim and Burdick. UC San Diego had nine hits, with Potestio and Klepsch collecting two apiece.

For the Tritons, relievers Jake Villar and Cal Elvis each tossed 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and no runs with a combined six strikeouts. Julian Cazares surrendered one run on one hit in the ninth.

The victory gave the Titans their 22nd win of the season after dropping the first two games of the series by scores of 10-9 and 10-6. UC San Diego had won four of its previous five games.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UC San Diego 5, Cal State Fullerton 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected UC San Diego with a 54.30 percent probability to win.