FULLERTON, Calif. – For the second consecutive game, the Cal State Fullerton softball team capitalized on a late mistake as Sarah Moore scored the game-winning run on a two-base error to scratch out a 3-2 victory over Big West frontrunner CSUN in the series opener at Anderson Family Field on Friday.
Fresh off an epic comeback to clinch a road series at UC Davis via three-base error last weekend, the Titans (33-21, 11-8) took advantage of another late mistake by the visiting Matadors (40-14, 15-4) to extend Fullerton's winning-steak over CSUN to five games.
Deadlocked at 2-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh frame, Moore led off with an opposite field single through the left-side. CSF senior Eliza Crawford was hit by a pitch for the 14th time this season to place the first two runners on board. Titan junior Samantha Galarza, who will forgo her senior season to graduate early, followed with a line-out to CSUN third baseman Maylynn Mitchell, but an attempted double up at first base by Mitchell went amiss as the throw trickled down the right field line. Moore rounded third and was called safe at the plate as CSUN catcher Katie Hooper was unable to handle the relay which sealed the unorthodox walk-off for the Titans.
Cal State Fullerton junior Desiree Ybarra (11-6) was superb in the circle, notching her eighth complete game of the season, scattering six hits and two runs. The left-hander from Riverside, Calif. struck out three and left a total of seven Matadors on the base paths. Ybarra escaped a crucial two-out bases loaded jam in the fifth to thwart a CSUN rally and keep the contest tied at two apiece.
In the second inning, the Fullerton offense began to manufacture momentum beginning with a one-out walk from freshman shortstop Shianne Brannan off CSUN starter, Zoe Conley. After a quick ground out, an infield single from Delynn Rippy and an RBI single by Samantha Vandiver drove in Brannan to put the Titans in front 1-0. CSF junior Missy Taukeiaho logged the third infield single of the frame to load the bases. Fullerton's Courtney Rodriguez absorbed a pitch square in the back to reach first base while Rippy trotted home to plate the second run of the inning.
After the Matadors were no-hit through the first three innings by Ybarra, Hooper made the first hit by the Matadors count in the fourth, hammering a solo home run to straight away center to cut the lead in half. An RBI single later in the inning from Mitchell notched the game up at 2-2.
CSUN's Brianna Elder (17-6) tossed an effective four and 2/3 innings of relief, limiting the Fullerton offense to just three hits while striking out eight. The right-hander yielded the decisive unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to take the loss.
The Titans and Matadors will conclude the final Big West series of the season with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. A senior day ceremony celebrating the careers of Eliza Crawford, Samantha Galarza and Emily Vizcarra will follow Saturday's doubleheader.
Game Notes: Due to inclement weather in the Fullerton area, tonight's game was moved back one hour for a 6 p.m. first pitch…Moore (2-for-4) was the only Titan to record a multi-hit game which was also her 10th of the season....The Titans are now 9-6 in one-run games and 6-2 when the game is tied after the fourth inning…Fullerton now holds a 68-36-1 all-time series record over the Matadors, while being 8-3 on Friday's and 20-8 at the friendly confines of Anderson Family Field…Vandiver (1-for-4) extended her hitting-streak to a team-high 11 games…Seven different Titans collected a hit.
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