Cal State Fullerton 11, BYU 0 Box Score (PDF)
Cal State Fullerton 4, Utah 3 Box Score (PDF)
LAS VEGAS — The 25th-ranked Cal State Fullerton softball team used an eight run opening frame to rout BYU, 11-0, while rallying to edge Utah, 4-3, in day two of the Wilson/Demarini Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With the sweep, the Titans reach 7-2, while BYU falls to 6-4 and Utah drops to 6-3.
Cal State Fullerton will wrap up competition tomorrow in the Wilson/Demarini Desert Classic with a 9 a.m. contest against Utah Valley at UNLV's Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas.
GAME ONE: No. 25 Cal State Fullerton 11, BYU 0
The Titans opened the flood gates early with an eight run outburst to bury the Cougars in game one. The inning began with leadoff batter Missy Taukeiaho being hit by a pitch by BYU's Arianna Paulson (0-2). University of Arizona transfer Courtney Rodriguez singled to center, moving Taukeiaho to second. With two runners on, designated player Eliza Crawford roped an RBI double down the right field line to drive in Taukeiaho and open up the scoring.
Oregon State transfer Kylie Padilla drew a walk, later followed by a two-run double by Mizzou transfer Sarah Moore, scoring Crawford and Rodriguez. Melissa Sechrest and Delynn Rippy followed with consecutive base on balls to bring home Moore. With two outs, Missy Taukeiaho launched a grand slam just over the left center fence, capping off the biggest offensive tally for the Titans in 2015.
Cal State Fullerton tacked on another pair of runs in the third frame, including a two-run round-tripper by Missy Taukeiaho, notching her second two-homer game of the season. Peoria, Ariz., native Melissa Sechrest earned an RBI infield single in the fourth to complete the scoring en route to the Titans' second run-rule victory of the weekend.
Sophomore Christina Washington (3-0) continues to impress in the circle, tossing the full five innings, yielding only five hits in the Titans' first shutout of the season while garnering her team-high second complete game.
The 1-2-3 order in the lineup did major damage as Taukeiaho turned in a 2-for-2 performance, scoring three times while producing Fullerton's first five RBI individual game. Rodriguez (2-for-3) collected another pair of hits while scoring twice. Crawford (2-for-2) tallied one run, one RBI and one walk. Moore was also a factor in the six-hole, producing a 2-for-3 effort with a pair of runs and RBIs, respectively.
GAME TWO: No. 25 Cal State Fullerton 4, Utah 3
Utah hung a pair of runs in the opening inning off CSF starter Desiree Ybarra, but Fullerton was hungry to capture a sweep after an unexpected loss to Nevada yesterday.
The rally began in the third frame as Melissa Sechrest reached base on a single to right field off Utes' starter Miranda Viramontes (2-3). Shianne Brannan and Delynn Rippy each followed with consecutive fielder's choices to force two quick outs.
With its back against the wall, Fullerton's Missy Taukeiaho drew a walk, later followed by an opposite field single down the left field line by Courtney Rodriguez to load the bases. The lone senior on the squad Eliza Crawford came in the clutch once again, clearing the bases with a double to left to put CSF in front 3-2.
Utah responded quickly to equalize the contest on a double to right center by Heather Bowen in the bottom of the fourth.
The decisive blow came from Taukeiaho, who launched her third homer of the day, a solo shot off the scoreboard in left to put the Titans ahead for good.
CSF's Christina Washington (4-0) entered the fifth inning in relief and tossed a superb final two and 1/3 innings of one hit shutout ball to earn her second win of the afternoon. Ybarra was given the start for the Titans, tossing the first four and 1/3 innings while surrendering one earned run on four hits.
Washington closed the door in the seventh forcing three consecutive groundouts to Maddy Woodard, Hannah Flippen and Kate Dickman to put Utah away and clinch Cal State Fullerton's seventh win of the season.
Game Notes: With three home runs on the day, Missy Taukeiaho has now tied Sue Lewis (1981-84) for seventh all-time with 25 career home run after recording six long balls thus far in 2015…Fullerton earned its first win (1-3) over BYU in program history, while extending to a slight edge of 13-11 all-time record over Utah…Taukeiaho produced the first five RBI game for any Titan this season…Fullerton recorded its second run rule victory in as many days after a 15-4 rout of Boise State yesterday…Courtney Rodriguez (9) and Missy Taukeiaho (7) lead the team in hitting streaks.
