FULLERTON, Calif. — Senior Gabby Aragon pioneered the Cal State Fullerton softball team with three hits and a career high five-RBI to down Fresno State, 9-2, at Anderson Family Field on Friday evening.
Aragon's evening at the plate included an RBI-single, two-run double and a two-run homer. The shortstop was a triple short of the cycle concluding the evening batting 3-for-4 with one run scored. The five RBI's eclipsed a previous career total of four, back on Apr. 14 when the Titans faced Hawai'i. Aragon's home run to left center marked her third of the year while adding to her fourth multi-hit game.
Fullerton starter Jasmine Antunez (7-4) tied a season-high on innings pitched with seven, fanning three Bulldogs and yielding two runs in the contest. The sophomore right-hander stranded six runners on base while the CSF offense supported her with nine runs and seven hits to cruise to a team-high seventh victory.
Catcher Ariel Tsuchiyama made three plate appearances for the Titans, scoring a career-high three runs to pace Cal State Fullerton to its fourth consecutive victory in as many days. Tsuchiyama finished offensively with a 1-for-3 outing, including her second round-tripper of the season off of Fresno State's starter Jill Compton (7-4). The La Habra, Calif., native used her second inning homer to extend her hitting streak to five-games.
Compton went the distance for the Bulldogs, tossing six innings, scattering seven hits while yielding four earned runs. The right-hander ran into trouble early in the contest, surrendering five runs in the first two innings while the defense behind her coughed up four costly errors.
The Titans opened up the game in the second inning as center fielder Paige Kisling singled up the middle. The carousel of errors would begin as Leesa Harris later followed with a single to left field while Fresno State's Kapri Angotti overthrew the cut-off to score Kisling and land Harris at third. Tsuchiyama took the first pitch and lifted it to left field which was misplayed scoring a total of four unearned runs in the inning.
Behind the second complete game of the season by Antunez, Fullerton tacked on one run in both the fourth and fifth inning, and two more in the sixth to run away from the Bulldogs handing Fresno State its seventh loss of the season.
The Titans continue their home stand this week hosting the Judi Garman Classic. Fullerton has three more contests remaining in the tournament, two games on Saturday against No. 17 Nebraska and No. 7 Arizona, and concluding with competition against Wisconsin on Sunday. All Fullerton games will be played at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif.
Game Notes: Melissa Sechrest snapped her five-game hitting streak while batting 0-for-3…In the Titans current four-game winning streak, CSF has outscored opponents 26-13…Antunez has now tossed a team-high 54 and 1/3 innings to go along with a (3.61) ERA…Freshman outfielder Delynn Rippy recorded her first stolen base of her career swiping second base in the fifth inning…Fullerton now owns an 11-2 mark within the home confines of Anderson Family Field.