LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jasmine Antunez, Desiree Ybarra, and Katey Laban combined to toss a five-hit 4-1 victory over Long Beach State in game one and Long Beach's Erin Jones-Wesley delivered an impressive performance in game two to tossing a complete game shutout giving the 49ers a 1-0 victory in game two on Saturday afternoon at 49ers Softball Complex.
The Titans recorded 11 hits and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning in game two. In game two, the Titans were able to get runners on, but were unable to drive them in as Jones-Wesley gave up only four hits and retired the final 13 batters of the game.
Cal State Fullerton moves to 16-21 overall, 3-5 in the Big West and Long Beach State imprThe Titans and 49ers will square off in the rubber match tomorrow at 1 p.m. at 49ers Softball Complex.
Game One: Cal State Fullerton 4, Long Beach State 1
After being swept by Cal Poly last weekend (March 29-30) and only managing four runs in those three games, the Cal State Fullerton softball team matched last weekend's run total producing four runs in game one of a doubleheader defeating Long Beach State 4-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The Titans got on the board first in the second inning with a two-out rally started by senior Tiffany Sheffler. Sheffler hit an infield single to the shortstop and then advanced on to second on an error by second baseman Nalani St. Germain on a stolen base attempt. Falling behind in the count 1-2, left fielder Leesa Harris hit a double down the left field line scoring Sheffler from second and giving the Titans a 1-0 advantage. The Titans would again score in the second inning after a fielding error by LBSU shortstop Shayna Kimbrough, which allowed Harris to score.
The Titans would extend their lead in the fifth inning after Melissa Sechrest hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring pinch runner Lauren Mario. Cal State Fullerton would again get a big two-out base hit from Sheffler as she knocked a 2-1 pitch back up the middle scoring Gabby Aragon from second.
Freshman Jasmine Antunez (10-12) started the game for the Titans tossing the first 2 2/3 innings allowing no hits, while issuing two walks and striking out two. However, Antunez was relieved by sophomore Desiree Ybarra in the third inning. Ybarra would continue in Antunez's footsteps dominating the LBSU hitters for 3 1/3 innings. The Riverside, Calif. native gave up no runs and allowed only two hits in game. Long Beach State was held without a hit until the fifth inning when first baseman Sarah Carrasco hit a double to right center.
Katey Laban threw the final inning giving up one run off three hits to earn her second save of the season. Long Beach State starter Amanda Hansen threw all seven innings giving up four runs, two earned, off 11 hits and falls to 6-5 on the season.
Eliza Crawford led the Titans with three hits, while senior Kirsten Lambertson added two hits off the bench. Seven Titans added hits in game one compared to LBSU who had five batters reach on a hit. Long Beach State's Kimbrough's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring Loni Tyler was the only run in the game for the 49ers.
Game Two: Long Beach State 1, Cal State Fullerton 0
Long Beach State's Erin Jones-Wesley started the second game of the doubleheader and got in some trouble early allowing two hits in the first inning to Cal State Fullerton, but the Titans were unable to bring them in. Long Beach only needed one run in the fourth inning to earn the victory.
Unlike the first game, the Titans and 49ers battled for four innings going scoreless until in the bottom of the fourth inning the 49ers were able to score. Long Beach State scored the only run of the game after Darian Tautalafua and Kari Sandoval reached base after a walk and hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt advanced each to the next base. First baseman Ashley Holmes then came through for the 49ers knocking an RBI single up the middle giving the home team a 1-0 lead.
The Titans were never able to get anything working on offense in game two and didn't record a hit or get a runner on base after the third inning as Jones-Wesley retired the final 13 batters of the game. The LBSU junior tossed seven innings allowing just four hits and issuing only one walk, while striking out six as she improves to 12-6. Jasmine Antunez earned the start again for the Titans throwing four innings allowing just two hits and no runs. Just like in game one, Ybarra (5-8) would relieve the freshman starter, but earned the loss after giving up one run off one hit, while issuing two walks.
Ybarra was 2-for-3 from the plate and Leesa Harris and Ariel Tsuchiyama both added hits for the Titans as they fail to score a run for the 12th game this season. Long Beach State only managed three hits versus Antunez and Ybarra.