HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Cal State Fullerton (26-20, 11-1 BWC) took both games of Saturday's double-header to complete the sweep of Hawai'i (20-21, 4-8 BWC). It is the third sweep of Big West play for the Titans and fourth straight series win.
Trish Parks looked to pick up where she left off after recording the save in game one of the series as she was called on for the start in game number two. And she followed up well, going the distance recording her fourth complete game of the season. In her seven innings of work, she allowed two runs (only one earned) on eight hits while striking out four.
Deshea Hill led the way on offense going 2-4 with four RBI in the ballgame. Sammie Vandiver matched her season-high with three hits, going 3-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Bryanna Ybarra recorded another two-hit contest going 2-4 with a run scored. Sam Kennedy and Julia Valenzuela also recorded multi-hit contests going 2-4 and 2-2 respectively. Zoe Richard was the only other Titan with a knock going 1-3 at the dish. Brooke Clemetson had some serious patience in this one working three walks and laying down a sac bunt.
After each team stranded a pair of runners in the first, the Titans came back in the second and got the scoring started. After an Ybarra single and a Brannan hit by pitch, Kennedy roped one into right-center for an RBI single and Fullerton jumped out to the early lead.
The Titans offense got runners on all game long, but couldn't cash in stranding at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first four frames.
Fullerton finally came through with some big hits in the fifth as an RBI single from Vandiver brought in one run followed by a two-RBI double off the bat of Hill made it a 4-0 game in favor of the Titans. Unfortunately, the shutout would end in the home half as Hawai'i plated a pair on a fielder's choice and an error.
After a quiet sixth for both sides, the Titans would spark the offense back up in the final frame to add some insurance runs. After a Clemetson walk, Vandiver single, and Williams sac bunt, Hill would come through with her second two-RBI knock of the day. This time, a single into left field as the Titans made it a four-run game once again.
That would be the final scoring of the day as UH threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but Parks shut them down to give the Titans the series victory. The win also marked the 200th of Head Coach Kelly Ford's tenure here at Cal State Fullerton.
With another game to play, it was a quick turnaround as the Titans looked for their third sweep of conference play.
Sophie Frost was back in the circle for the second game and dominated. In her five innings of work, she allowed just one run on only three hits and three walks while striking out two. It is also her 13th complete game of the season as she moved to 11-5 on the year.
The Fullerton offense exploded in game two recording 12 hits and plating 11 runs. Leading that explosion was Ari Williams who went 3-3 in the contest with a pair of runs scored. Bryanna Ybarra recorded another two-hit game going 2-2 at the plate while Sammie Vandiver also recorded a two-hit game going 2-3 with two runs scored. Deshea Hill and Zoe Richard were the only other two starters to record knocks in the ballgame. But Irieanna Siofele, Emily Randall, and Ari Burns all recorded hits in their pinch hit appearances.
Hawai'i would score first as they plated a run in the bottom half of the first courtesy of a double steal. However, they would only hold that lead through the second.
Trailing by one, the Titans put up a four-spot in the third inning. After a Clemetson walk, Vandiver single, and Williams bunt single, Hill came to the plate with the bases loaded and lined an RBI single into center field. A wild pitch would plate another run followed by back-to-back sac flies from Richard and Brannan as Fullerton claimed the lead.
The offense wasn't done though as they came back up in the fourth inning and plated six more to blow the game wide open. They got some help from four Hawai'i errors, but still got some timely hitting as Burns recorded a two-RBI single toward the end of the inning.
Just for good measure, Fullerton would plate another in the top of the fifth after Siofele's leadoff double, Randall's infield single, and Richard's RBI double.
With a double-digit lead, Frost cruised through the final two innings recording both of her strikeouts in the final frame.
The 11-1 victory just so happens to make Cal State Fullerton 11-1 in Big West play. The Titans will be back in action next weekend as they play host to UC Davis at Anderson Family Field.
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