Cal State Fullerton’s only pitcher less than 6 feet stood tall on Saturday night.

Freshman Justin Garza got the fourth-ranked Titans back in the win column, combining with two relievers to throw a six-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Hawaii before a Les Murakami Stadium crowd of 2,880.

Garza (9-0), who is listed at 5-feet-11, held the Rainbows to five hits over a career-high-tying eight innings.

Designated hitter J.D. Davis added a career-high five hits and scored twice for Cal State Fullerton (35-7, 11-3 Big West), which blanked an opponent for the eighth time this season.

"I went to war with my fastball and tried my best to locate it," Garza said. "I know they’re free swingers, so I tried to get ahead early and let them get themselves out."

Garza tied a season low with only two strikeouts but pitched to contact effectively. He retired 10 straight at one point and allowed only one baserunner to reach second base.

"Garza is 9-0 for a reason, but I’m proud of our guys because we had (two) strikeouts against a guy averaging a strikeout an inning and I really liked the way we played," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. "We just couldn’t get a hit off Garza when we needed to."

Conner George and Andre Real had two hits apiece for the Rainbows (9-28, 4-10), who loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth.

Davis, who scored twice and drove in a run, came on in relief of Willie Kuhl, who allowed a single and a walk to start the bottom of the ninth.

Davis hit Marc Flores with a pitch to load the bases with one out before retiring the next two batters to end the game.

George finished with two singles to raise his average to .297 as he continues to flirt with the .300 mark, but credited Garza with holding UH at bay for eight innings.

"We don’t see a lot of guys who are throwing mid-90s all game and props to him," George said. "He had great stuff and kind of blew my mind as a freshman to come out there and be that tough for that long."

Garza needed 95 pitches to get through eight innings but didn’t get a chance to record his first collegiate complete game.

"I wanted to go out there, but the coaches obviously know what they are doing," Garza said. "I didn’t really have secondary pitches, but I did the best I could."

Junior Matt Cooper lasted only three innings for the second time in his last four starts as Trapasso sent Scott Squier out to start the fourth inning.

Cooper walked in a run in the first inning and shortstop Austin Wobrock committed his first error of the season, allowing Davis to score to put the Titans up 2-0.

Davis led off the third with a single and scored on a passed ball as two of the three runs given up by Cooper were unearned.

Still, he needed 63 pitches just to get through the three innings and allowed five hits with two strikeouts.

"Cooper was just empty and I’m a little concerned for him," Trapasso said. "He’s showing some fatigue from just having to keep him out there for 100 pitches every start, but he’s got to give us four more starts and grind it out for us."

Squier was originally slated to start Game 1 before Trapasso decided to reinsert Connor Little back into the rotation on Thursday.

He kept Fullerton from scoring again until Davis ripped his fourth hit of the night to center to score Carlos Lopez, who led off the seventh with a double.

"(Davis) had an amazing game," Trapasso said. "He hit a fastball, a curveball, a changeup, he hit outside, he hit inside, we tried everything with him."

With the series up for grabs, Hawaii will turn to senior Corey MacDonald (4-4, 4.11 ERA), who will oppose Fullerton sophomore Grahamm Wiest (6-2, 2.73).

The Titans have not lost a series all season.