FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team swept UC Davis for the first time at Anderson Family Field since 2006 behind Eliza Crawford's walk-off RBI double in game one, 5-4, while the Fullerton offense exploded for a season-high 14 hits en route to a 10-5 decision in the night cap on Saturday.
Following the sweep of the Big West doubleheader, the Titans climb to (30-20-1, 10-7) and the Aggies fall to (17-31, 6-11). The Titans clinch their first 30-win season since 2009 when then Head Coach Michelle Gromacki, led Fullerton to a 30-21 record with a 17-4 mark in Big West competition.
GAME ONE: Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Davis 4
With their backs against the wall, Carissa Turang and Crawford stepped up as two of the more unlikely heroes in the Titans' lineup.
Down 3-2, Turang struck for her first long ball of the year, lining a game tying solo shot to left field to lead off the seventh inning.
Sophomore Missy Taukeiaho drew a four-pitch walk to put the game-winning run on base. With two-outs, Crawford gapped her fifth double of season, scoring Taukeiaho while capping off the 13th comeback win and fourth walk-off for the Titans.
Turang batted 1-for-2 with one RBI while scoring one run. Crawford chipped in a 2-for-4 effort, scoring one run and driving in a pair.
Sophomore Monique Wesley (5-6) tossed the final two innings to capture her fifth win on the year, surrendering one earned run on zero hits. The right-hander from Fontana, Calif., walked two while fanning one.
Freshman Christina Washington was given the start in the circle, battling for five innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits. The left-hander issues a pair of walks and failed to record a strikeout.
After the Aggies jumped on the board 1-0 in the opening inning, the Titans showcased their power in the bottom of the frame as Taukeiaho and Crawford launched back-to-back home runs to quickly snatch the lead away from the Aggies into a 2-1 advantage.
Taukeiaho turned in a 1-for-2 performance from the leadoff position, scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. Batting from the right-side, she also drew two walks en route to extending her team-high 27th consecutive game of reaching base safely. The native from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., moved into second place in the all-time records for most home runs in a single season behind Stephanie Little, who smacked 23 long balls during the 1999 campaign.
Down 3-1, UC Davis stormed back in the fifth frame highlighted with an RBI double by Amy Nunez and a sacrifice fly by Kelly Zboralske, notching the game up at three apiece. In total, the Aggies manufactured two runs on three hits to close the gap. UC Davis struck again in the seventh inning to take the lead using a wild pitch by Wesley to score Brianna Warner who drew a walk to lead off the inning. The Aggies held the 4-3 lead for just a half inning before Turang and Crawford completed the walk-off for Fullerton.
GAME TWO: Cal State Fullerton 10, UC Davis 5
Fullerton used 14 hits, most in any game this season to out muscle UC Davis and capture the series with one game left to go in the three-game set. Five Titans produced multi-hit games, capping off the fifth comeback of a two-run deficit and the second overall come-from-behind victory of the day.
Senior Leesa Harris led the way turning in a perfect 3-for-3 performance in game two, recording two RBIs and scoring another pair. Harris collected her team-high fourth three-hit game of 2014. Fellow CSF senior Ariel Tsuchiyama chipped in a 2-for-3 effort, scoring one run while collecting one RBI and extending her current hitting streak to three-games.
From experience to youth, Head Coach Kelly Ford witnessed a glimpse of the future as two freshman, Delynn Rippy and Sydeny Colenzo shined offensively as well. Rippy batted 2-for-3 with one run scored, collecting two hits for just the second time in her career. Colenzo set a career-high in scoring another pair of runs, scattering two hits and drawing one walk.
Washington (11-5) tossed the final fours inning of stellar relief, surrendering only four hits and one unearned run. The Inglewood, Calif., native chalked up her team-high 11th win of the season.
After notching the win in relief in game one, Wesley labored through the first three innings as a starter in game two. The right-hander yielded four runs on seven hits, issuing two walks and fanning two Aggies.
Dana Cruse was given the second consecutive start in the circle for UC Davis, failing to record an out in the first frame and being pulled after allowing three runs on three hits. Leah Munden (2-10) entered in relief and took the loss, tossing two and 2/3 innings, scattering six hits and four runs.
Andrea Reynolds became the third Aggie pitcher to enter, allowing another three unearned runs over three and 1/3 innings as the UC Davis defense committed three errors, resulting in five unearned runs overall.
The Titans and Aggies will wrap up the three-game set tomorrow at noon, on Senior Day at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif. Senior Day festivities will begin at 11:45 p.m., prior to the first pitch.
Cal State Fullerton will attempt to sweep UC Davis for the first time since 2009 when the Titans recorded wins of 10-3, 5-4 and 7-2 on the road in Davis, Calif.