Mary Nutter Classic Schedule
Thursday, February 25
6:00 p.m. Utah vs. Cal State Fullerton
8:30 p.m. Georgia vs. Cal State Fullerton
Friday, February 26
8:00 p.m. Oklahoma State vs. Cal State Fullerton
Saturday, February 27
5:00 p.m. BYU vs. Cal State Fullerton
7:30 p.m. New Mexico State vs. Cal State Fullerton
Location: Palm Springs, Calif.
Live Stats: FullertonTitans.com
Video: FloSoftball.com
Record vs. Utah: CSF leads 14-12
Record vs. Georgia: Series tied 3-3
Record vs. Oklahoma State: CSF leads 13-5
Record vs. BYU: BYU leads 3-1
Record vs. New Mexico State: CSF leads 29-12
A LOOK AT THE WEEK
The Cal State Fullerton softball team continues its road swing as the Titans head to Palm Springs, Calif., to participate in the Mary Nutter Classic.
The annual tournament pits Cal State Fullerton against Utah (2/25), No. 8/9 Georgia (2/25), Oklahoma State (2/26), BYU (2/27) and New Mexico State (2/27) over three days.
FOLLOW THE TITANS
Fans can keep up with the latest in Cal State Fullerton athletics by following us on Facebook (FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own official Facebook (csufsoftball), Twitter (@CSUFSoftball) and Instagram (csufsoftball) accounts.
KEEP UP WITH TITAN SOFTBALL
Live stats will be provided for all games this weekend. To access live stats for the games, log onto www.FullertonTitans.com and go to the softball schedule then click live stats.
WATCH THE TITANS
Cal State Fullerton home softball contests will be broadcast live over the Internet at FullertonTitans.com. The Titans also offer live streaming video for home softball contests over the Internet courtesy of Big West.TV. Fans can catch all the exclusive action from the comfort of their home computers. To access the links, click on the audio or live video link on the schedule page.
To watch the Titans in action at the Mary Nutter Classic, fans must purchase the package through FloSoftball.com.
RECAPPING THE BRONCO CLASSIC
Cal State Fullerton went 4-1 at the Santa Clara Bronco Classic last weekend with a pair of wins over Santa Clara and Seattle. The Titans' only loss came in 10 innings against Idaho State as Fullerton fell by a score of 3-2.
LAST TIME OUT
Alexis Gonzalez belted a home run to help Cal State Fullerton roll passed Santa Clara 10-0 in the final game of the tournament.
The Titans scored two runs in the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead over Santa Clara.
With freshman right-hander Syndey Golden (5-0) in the circle, the Titans kept the Broncos off the board.
Golden was solid in her fifth outing of the year as she went 5.0 innings without allowing a run and giving up just four hits. She fanned three and walked two.
The Titans took their 4-0 lead into the seventh and exploded for six runs in the frame after sending 11 batters to the plate.
With runners on second and third, Gonzalez sent her second homer of the day over the leftfield fence to make it a 9-0 game.
Cal State Fullerton was not done scoring yet as the Titans capped their scoring after taking a 10-0 lead.
Santa Clara's McCall James (0-3) suffered the loss after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, while walking two and striking out one.
Gonzalez finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
IN THE POLLS
The Mary Nutter Classic is littered with ranked teams and tough opponents. includes four strong opponents. However, Cal State Fullerton will only face one ranked opponent in No. 8/9 Georgia this weekend.The Titans will also go up against Utah which is receiving votes.
On the year, the Titans will face several ranked opponents in No. 4 Alabama, No. 11/10 UCLA, No. 12/11 Oklahoma, No. 13/15 Florida State, No. 19/17 Arizona State, No. 20/23 Fresno State and No. 23 Mississippi State during a very competitive schedule.
100 AND COUNTING
Head coach Kelly Ford recorded her 100th win at the helm of the Cal State Fullerton softball program last week at the Santa Clara Bronco Classic. After going 4-1 as the tournament, Ford now owns 103 victories and looks to come back from the Mary Nutter Classic with 108.
GOOD AS GOLD
Freshman right-hander Sydney Golden continues to work her magic in the circle as she is 5-0 on the year having collected a victory in every appearance she has made. Her five wins lead the Big West Conference. The Riverside, Calif., native owns a 1.68 ERA, which is good for second in the conference, and has thrown two complete games and one shutout in 25.0 innings of work. She is limiting opponents to a batting average of just .215 and is leading Cal State Fullerton in strikeouts with 15.
STOP! THIEF!
Senior centerfielder Courtney Rodriguez has been swift on the base paths this season as she has stolen seven bases in eight attempts thus far. Rodriguez is third in the Big West Conference with seven stolen bases on the year.
TWO HOMERS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez belted two home runs on the final day of the Santa Clara Bronco Classic. The Convina, Calif., native blasted a two-run shot over the leftfield fence in the first inning of Fullerton's game against Seattle. She came back in the nightcap and crushed a three-run homer to left in the seventh inning in the Titans' game versus the Broncos.
DOUBLE VISION
In 10 games thus far, the Titans' defense has already turned five double plays. Three of those came in Fullerton's 10-0 win over Santa Clara.
LEAGUE LEADER
Senior right-handed pitcher Jasmine Antunez has made five appearances this season and is 1-0 with one save. Her 1.35 ERA leads both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference. Antunez has pitched 10.1 innings, while giving up two earned runs on nine hits with 13 strikeouts.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
The Titans were one of the most prolific offenses in the league a year ago as they ranked second in the Big West in runs (278), hits (465), doubles (71), triples (12), total bases (638), walks (170) and stolen bases (49).
Cal State Fullerton did not waste any time showing off its hot bats as the Titans are out-scoring their opponents 68-30 in just 10 games.
RETURN OF THE ALL-AMERICAN
Three-time All-American Missy Taukeiaho was selected as one of 50 student-athletes on the "Watch List" for the 2016 USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year award. The is the second straight year she has been selected to the "Watch List." This season the senior third baseman is leading the Titans with a .448 batting average (13-for-29) and a .793 slugging percentage. She has scored nine runs, drove in five, roped seven double and belted one homer, while drawing eight walks on the season.
THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM
Cal State Fullerton has made the most of scoring early in games. When the Titans score first, they are 8-0 on the year. Additionally, Fullerton is 6-0 when it scores in the first inning.
ON DECK
Following the Mary Nutter Classic, Cal State Fullerton returns home to Anderson Family Field to host the Judi Garman Classic. The tournament features competition such as Arizona State, San Jose State, Wisconsin, Northwestern and North Carolina. The Judi Garman Classic begins Thursday, March 3 and concludes Sunday, March 6.