FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton (7-9) went absolutely bananas in the third inning, plating nine runs to carry them to a victory over Fresno State (8-9) on day three of the Judi Garman Classic.
Freshman Taylor Dockins got the start in the circle for the Titans in this one and she struggled early on. A leadoff double from Miranda Rohleder got things started for Fresno State and she would eventually come around to score on an RBI groundout as the Bulldogs took an early lead. Dockins would get through the second with no issues, but surrender another run in the third inning on a pair of doubles from Hayleigh Galvan and Rachel Minogue.
While the Fullerton offense was kept quiet in the first two innings, not collecting a single hit, they blew it wide open in the third. A leadoff walk to Sammie Vandiver put a baserunner on and Zoe Richard launched a monster shot to right field that hit the stands at field two. That tied the ballgame and the Titans were just getting started. After an Ari Williams line out, Shianne Brannan would begin what turned out to be an insane two-out rally.
Bryanna Ybarra would double off the wall to bring in Brannan. Dockins walked, putting two runners on for pinch hitter Janelle Rodriguez. Rodriguez blasted one off the top of the fence in right center for a two-RBI double. A fielding error plated two more runs and with the bases loaded, a Williams single up the middle would bring two more runs across. Overall, it was a nine-run inning with seven of them coming with two outs. The Fullerton two-out rally was seven runs on six hits, two walks, and an error.
Dockins settled down in the circle with the comfortable lead as Fresno State would only get one more run in the top of the fifth off of her as she finished off her seventh complete game of the season.
Needing two runs for the five-inning run-rule, Brooke Clemetson did what she does best as she legged out an infield single and swiped her fourteenth bag of the year. Freshman Deshea Hill smoked one into right field as Clemetson came in to score easily. Richard finished the game off as she singled up the middle to bring in Vandiver giving the Titans an 11-3 five-inning victory.
Fullerton will play one final game of the Judi Garman Classic as they face off against Michigan State in the final game of the tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT
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