Game 33
No. 22/24 Fresno State at Cal State Fullerton
Date: Tuesday, March 22
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Fullerton, Calif.
Venue: Anderson Family Field
Live Stats: FullertonTitans.com
Audio: FullertonTitans.com
Video: FullertonTitans.com
Series Record: Fresno State leads 39-32
Games 34-35
Cal State Fullerton at CSU Bakersfield
Date: Wednesday, March 23
Time: 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. (DH)
Location: Bakersfield, Calif.
Venue: Roadrunner Softball Complex
Live Stats: GoRunners.com
Series Record: Cal State Fullerton leads 5-1-1
A LOOK AT THE WEEK
Cal State Fullerton, which has won 10 of its last 11 games, welcomes No. 22/24 Fresno State to Anderson Family Field for a midweek, non-conference game on Tuesday, March 22. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
Following the Titans' contest against Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton will head to Bakersfield, Calif., to take on CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday, March 23. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m., with the nightcap scheduled for approximately 3 p.m.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME
Cal State Fullerton students receive free admission to Titan home games with their Titan I.D. card.
For all pricing and additional ticket information, please click HERE.
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.
RECAPPING THE EASTON TOURNAMENT
Cal State Fullerton went 3-1 in the Easton Tournament over the weekend. The Titans kicked off the tourney against No. 6 Alabama and kept up with the nationally-ranked Crimson Tide, but eventually fell 2-1 in their only loss of the tournament. Fullerton went on and knocked off No. 13 Oklahoma, 7-5, before defeating Arkansas, 8-1, and shutting out New Mexico, 2-0.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra recorded her sixth complete game of the year as she helped the Cal State Fullerton softball team to a 2-0 victory over New Mexico to wrap up the Easton Tournament.
The Titans went 3-1 during the tournament to improve to 23-9 overall as they have now won 10 of their last 11 games. The Lobos fall to 15-11 on the season after going 2-3 in the tourney.
Ybarra (6-4) lowered her ERA to 1.85 after throwing 7.0 innings of shutout softball, while scattering five hits, walking three and fanning seven.
The Fullerton defense was on point today as it got Ybarra out of a pair of bases loaded jams without allowing a run to score. New Mexico finished the game having left eight runners on base.
The Titans manufactured the first run of the ballgame on a passed ball in the third inning that brought Delynn Rippy in to score. Rippy reached base on an infield single and stole second before advancing to third on an illegal pitch. The run marked the 11th time that Rippy has scored this season.
Missy Taukeiaho and Sarah Moore joined together to plate the second and final run of the game in the fifth inning as Taukeiaho laced a one-out double down the left field line and Moore drove her in on a single to centerfield.
New Mexico's starter, Collette Robert (7-5) pitched 6.0 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits. She walked one and struck out one en route to suffering her fifth loss of the season.
Eight of the nine Cal State Fullerton starters recorded a base hit in the game and Ariana Williams notched two as she was the only Titan to record a multi-hit performance.
IN THE POLLS
Cal State Fullerton welcomes No. 22/24 Fresno State to Anderson Family Field. The Bulldogs are just one of several nationally ranked teams the Titans will face this year.
This season Fullerton is 2-3 agaisnt nationally ranked opponents.
100 AND COUNTING
Head coach Kelly Ford recorded her 100th win at the helm of the Cal State Fullerton softball program against Santa Clara on Feb. 19. Ford now owns 118 victories and looks to finish off the week with 121.
GOOD AS GOLD
Freshman right-hander Sydney Golden continues to perform well in the circle as she boasts a 10-3 record on the year. She has pitched four complete games and one shutout in 16 appearances. Her 10 wins are good for third in the Big West Conference. The Riverside, Calif., native owns a 2.43 ERA, which also ranks third in the conference.
LEADING THE CONFERENCE
The Titans have done a solid job offensively this season as they are leading the Big West Conference in four offensive categories. Cal State Fullerton sits atop the league in hits (256), doubles (46), walks (106) and sacrifice flies (10). However, the Titans have also seen strong pitching this season as well. CSF leads the Big West in ERA (2.40), opponent batting average (.229). Rounding out the offense and pitching is the Titans' defensive efforts as their catchers lead the league after having caught eight runners attempting to steal.
STOP! THIEF!
Cal State Fullerton has a pair of runners who have been hot on the base paths and posting double figures in stolen bases. Courtney Rodriguez leads the squad with 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts and Ariana Williams is second on the team with 11 steals in 12 attempts. Following close behind is Delynn Rippy with 9 steals on 10 attempts. The trio account for 33 of the Titans' 54 stolen bases (61 percent) as they are a big reason Fullerton is ranked second in the league in steals this season.
HOME RUN TERRITORY
The Titans have launched eight long balls on the year and six of them have come from the bat of Missy Taukieaho and Alexis Gonzalez. The duo have each belted three home runs this season, while Melissa Sechrest and Desiree Ybarra have contributed the other two. Taukieaho is responsible for the Titans' most recent bomb as she blasted a three-run homer in Cal State Fullerton's 8-1 victory over Arkansas at the Easton Tournament on Saturday, March 19.
DOUBLE VISION
This season, the Titans' defense has turned nine double plays. Three of those came in Fullerton's 10-0 win over Santa Clara, while two came in a mid-week contest versus Princeton. Their nine DP's rank third in the Big West Conference.
PERFECTION IN THE FIELD
Senior first baseman Melissa Sechrest is about as sure-handed as an infielder can be, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage over her 26 games on the diamond. The ball has certainly found her as she has 187 total chances, resulting in 177 putouts and 10 assists. She has also helped turn seven of the Titans' nine double plays on the year.
MARCH MADNESS
During the month of March, Cal State Fullerton has boasted a record of 14-3 which is an .824 winning percentage. The Titans three losses during the month have come against No. 11 Florida State, Wisconsin and No. 6 Alabama.
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 20-1 on the year. Additionally, Fullerton is 10-0 when it scores in the first inning. CSF has scored the majority of its runs in the first this season, plating 34 in the opening frame.
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
After 32 games played, Cal State Fullerton is undefeated when leading after the fifth inning. The Titans have won 14 of their 23 victories holding onto a lead after the fifth inning.
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 .381 batting average and a .649 slugging percentage. She has scored 24 runs, drove in 15, roped 15 doubles, ripped one triple and belted three homers, while drawing 17 walks on the season. Her 15 doubles and 17 walks lead both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference.
GET 'EM ON, GET 'EM OVER, GET 'EM IN
The Titans are hitting .512 (272-for-531) when successfully advancing runners on the base paths. Leading the way offensively in this situation is Courtney Rodriguez who is 39-for-60 (.650). Additionally Cal State Fullerton is batting .471 (49-for-104) with a runner at third with less than two outs. Again, Rodriguez has been most effective in this situation as she boasts a .692 batting average (9-for-13) with a runner at third and less than two outs.
ALWAYS ON BASE
Junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez has played in 28 games this season with 25 starts. During her time on the diamond, she extended her reached base streak to 22 games before going 0-for-3 last Sunday against New Mexico. However, her frequency on the base paths gave her an on-base percentage of nearly .500 (.494). This season, she has reached base thanks to 25 hits, 16 walks, four sacrifice hits and one hit by pitch.
WALK THIS WAY
Missy Taukeiaho and Alexis Gonzalez are leading the Titans in walks this season. The duo have combined for 33 walks on the year as Taukeiaho leads the squad with 17 and Gonzalez has drawn 16 walks. Taukeiaho's 17 walks tie her for first in the Big West Conference, while Gonzalez's 16 base on balls are good for fourth.
DOUBLE DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE
Missy Taukeiaho leads both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference with 15 doubles on the year. Taukeiaho roped three doubles in one game earlier this season against UT-San Antonio in the season opener on Feb. 12. Behind Taukeiaho with nine doubles is Sarah Moore. As a team, the Titans have recorded 46 doubles which leads the Big West Conference.
BWC STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Cal State Fullerton ranks in the top three in each statistical category (pitching, hitting and fielding) in the Big West Conference. The Titans lead the league in earned run average with a 2.40 team ERA and are second in fielding percentage with a .967 mark. Fullerton rounds out the top three statistical categories with a .305 batting average which is good for third in the league.
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
The Titans have had their most success when playing on Sunday as the squad is undefeated when playing on that day of the week. Cal State Fullerton owns a 7-0 record when taking the field on a Sunday.
BWC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week during the week of March 14 after helping Cal State Fullerton to a 5-0 weekend at the Louisville Slugger Invitational. She did not allow an earned run over four appearances in 15.1 innings of work while collecting wins over Mississippi State and Iowa State.
NO RELATION
The Titans have a pair of Ybarra's on the team in senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra and sophomore infielder Bryanna Ybarra. Desiree sports jersey No. 15, while Bryanna wears No. 16. With the same last name and consecutive jersey numbers, you'd think the duo are sisters - they're not.
ON DECK
Cal State Fullerton closes out the month of March against UCLA on the 29th at Anderson Family Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.