Game 35
No. 14/16 UCLA at Cal State Fullerton
Date: Tuesday, March 29
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Fullerton, Calif.
Venue: Anderson Family Field
Live Stats: FullertonTitans.com
Audio: FullertonTitans.com
Video: FullertonTitans.com
Series Record: UCLA leads 41-33-1
A LOOK AT THE WEEK
Cal State Fullerton, which is riding a five-game winning streak, welcomes No. 14/16 UCLA to Anderson Family Field for a midweek, non-conference contest on Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. The game will close out the Titans' non-conference slate before opening up Big West action this weekend.
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.
SELL OUT CROWD
The Cal State Fullerton-UCLA softball game is sold out. There will be no walk up sales the day of the game at Anderson Family Field. Additionally, there will be no complimentary pass lists for high school, junior college and travel ball coaches for this game. Gates for the 6 p.m. contest will open at 4:30 p.m. Seating is general admission, infield seating along with seating on the outfield berm are on a first come, first serve basis.
CONSTRUCTION ZONE
Please note that from March 27-31, the entrance off of Yorba Linda Blvd., and Associated Road will be closed due to the City of Fullerton's Water Main Replacement Project. Visitors will be sent to enter parking Lots A and G through entrance Number 9, located off of Yorba Linda Blvd., between the two lots. Cal State Fullerton's Parking and Transportation Services will have visable signage posted directing visitors to the appropriate entrances. Visitors may also enter off of Nutwood Ave., taking either Folino Drive around to the baseball/softball complex or to State College to enter into Lot A. Please allow ample time due to the expectation of volumes of traffic along Yorba Linda Blvd., during this time period.
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 week. 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.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cal State Fullerton softball team won its fifth straight game after defeating CSU Bakersfield by a score of 8-2 Wednesday afternoon in a midweek, non-conference affair.
Fullerton used two big innings in which it scored three and four runs, respectively, while Cerissa Rivera and Jasmine Antunez combined to hold off Bakersfield. Antunez (3-1) earned the win, while Rivera was credited with the no decision.
The Titans took an early lead after plating three runs in the top of the second on two hits. A pair of walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Delynn Rippy who sent a single back up the middle to drive in the first two runs of the game. Samantha Vandiver followed with an RBI-double to left, which scored Rippy and gave Fullerton a 3-0 advantage.
CSU Bakersfield countered in the fourth, but was only able to muster one run after two singles and a walk.
Rivera did a solid job in the circle as she pitched 3.0 innings of work and allowed one run on five hits, while recording one strike out.
Fullerton added to its lead and scored four runs in the fourth thanks in part to a three-run home run off the bat of Alexis Gonzalez.
Shianne Brannan scored the first run of the inning for the Titans as she came in on an illegal pitch. Gonzalez's blast drove in Vandiver and Missy Taukeiaho, who each drew a walk, to mark her team-leading fifth homer of the year and gave the Titans a 7-1 lead.
Cal State Fullerton made a pitching change in the top of the fourth and brought in Antunez who pitched 4.0 innings of work, while allowing one run on four hits. She struck out one en route to earning her third win of the year.
The Roadrunners added their second run of the game in the sixth after doubles by Chris Hipa and Josie Flores. However, the Titans' defense did a good job helping Rivera and Antunez as the Road Runners left 10 runners on base during the game.
Amber Mills (3-5) suffered the loss after earning the start and being pulled after 1.2 innings of work. She came back in the game after Lyndsay Klimenko and Alyssa Stockton combined for 4.0 innings pitched. Mills finished the game pitching a total of 3.0 innings, while allowing three runs on as many hits with three walks.
Gonzalez finished the game batting 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
IN THE POLLS
Cal State Fullerton welcomes No. 14/16 UCLA to Anderson Family Field. The Bruins are just one of several nationally ranked teams the Titans will face this year.
This season Fullerton is 3-3 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 120 victories and looks to finish off the week with 124.
SCORELESS STREAK
Senior southpaw Desiree Ybarra has been on point in the circle in her last several outings. She is currently riding a 15.1 scoreless inning streak and has not allowed an earned run in 36.0 innings dating back to March 6.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Desiree Ybarra has set the tone in the circle for the Titans' pitching staff as the senior left-hander leads the team with a 1.69 ERA in 20 appearances with 12 starts. The Riverside, Calif., native has collected seven wins, seven complete games, three shutouts and 73 strike outs this season. Additionally, she has allowed just 34 walks and 67 hits in 82.2 innings of work.
Ybarra is second in the Big West in ERA (1.69), opposing batting average (.221) and earned runs allowed (20).
GOOD AS GOLD
Freshman right-hander Sydney Golden boasts a 10-3 record on the year to rank third in the Big West in wins. She has pitched four complete games and one shutout in 16 appearances. The Riverside, Calif., native owns a 2.43 ERA, which also ranks third in the conference.
WALK THIS WAY
Missy Taukeiaho is leading the Titans in walks this season as she has drawn 20 bases on balls which lead both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference.
LEADING THE CONFERENCE
The Titans have done a solid job offensively this season as they are leading the Big West Conference in five offensive categories. Cal State Fullerton sits atop the league in runs scored (17), doubles (50), total plate appearances (1058), walks (112) and sacrifice flies (10). However, the Titans have also seen strong pitching this season as well. CSF leads the Big West in ERA (2.31), opponent batting average (.221), innings pitched (227.0), wins (25), runs allowed (96), earned runs allowed (75) and home runs allowed (12). 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 trio 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 12 steals in 13 attempts. Following close behind is Delynn Rippy with 10 steals on 11 attempts. The trio account for 35 of the Titans' 59 stolen bases (nearly 60 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 10 long balls on the year and eight of them have come from the bat of Alexis Gonzalez and Missy Taukeiaho. Gonzalez leads Cal State Fullerton with five, while Taukeiaho has contributed three and Melissa Sechrest and Desiree Ybarra have each belted one apiece. Gonzalez is responsible for the Titans' most recent bomb as she blasted a three-run homer in Cal State Fullerton's 8-2 victory at CSU Bakersfield on March 23. Her bomb came just one day after she hit a three-run shot against nationally-ranked Fresno State on March 22.
DOUBLE VISION
This season, the Titans' defense has turned 10 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 10 DP's rank second in the Big West Conference.
MARCH MADNESS
During the month of March, Cal State Fullerton has boasted a record of 16-3 which is an .842 winning percentage. The Titans' three losses during the month have come against No. 11 Florida State, Wisconsin and No. 6 Alabama.
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 27 games on the diamond. The ball has certainly found her as she has 191 total chances, resulting in 181 putouts and 10 assists. She has also helped turn seven of the Titans' 10 double plays on the year.
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 22-1 on the year. Additionally, Fullerton is 11-0 when it scores in the first inning. CSF has scored the majority of its runs in the first this season, plating 37 in the opening frame.
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
After 34 games played, Cal State Fullerton is undefeated when leading after the fifth inning. The Titans have won 16 of their 25 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 boasts a .376 batting average and a .634 slugging percentage. She has scored 26 runs, drove in 15, roped 15 doubles, ripped one triple and belted three homers, while drawing 20 walks on the season. Her 15 doubles and 20 walks lead both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference.
GET 'EM ON, GET 'EM OVER, GET 'EM IN
The Titans are hitting .511 (291-for-570) when successfully advancing runners on the base paths. Leading the way offensively in this situation is Courtney Rodriguez who is 39-for-61 (.639). Additionally Cal State Fullerton is batting .459 (51-for-111) 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.
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.
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 10 doubles is Sarah Moore. As a team, the Titans have recorded 50 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 2.31 team ERA and are second in fielding percentage with a .968 mark. Fullerton rounds out the top three statistical categories with a .307 batting average which is good for third in the league.
BIG WEST WEEKLY HONORS
Senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time in three weeks after pitching a complete-game shutout against nationally-ranked Fresno State last week. Ybarra struck out a career-high 11 batters and extended her scoreless inning streak to 15.1 innings.
Ybarra was joined this week by junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez who earned her first BWC Player of the Week nod after belting a pair of three-run home runs against Fresno State and CSU Bakersfield last week en route to helping the Titans extend their winning streak to five.
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 pair are sisters - they're not.
ON DECK
Cal State Fullerton opens the month of April and Big West Conference action against UC Riverside on April 2 and 3. The Titans and the Highlanders who are 1st and 2nd in league standings will play a doubleheader at Anderson Family Field on Saturday at 2 p.m., and a single game Sunday at 12 noon.