FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton (29-20, 14-1 BWC) trailed by four heading into the final inning, but a six-run seventh capped off by Mikaela Francis' walkoff home run gave the Titans a win over UC Davis (24-21, 6-9 BWC). It marks the eighth straight victory for Fullerton and another series sweep.
Trish Parks, fresh off a career-best 10 strikeout performance, got the start in the circle for the Titans, but had a rough outing. Only lasting 1.1 innings, she gave up four runs on six hits, before relinquishing the ball to Sophie Frost. Frost, however, was phenomenal coming out of the bullpen. She threw 5.2 innings of relief work only allowing two runs on five hits while striking out a pair.
The Fullerton offense was basically held quiet until the seventh, but Brooke Clemetson and Sammie Vandiver led the way each recording multi-hit games. Clemetson went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI while Vandiver went 2-4 also scoring a run and driving in another. Deshea Hill went 1-4 with a pair of RBI, Bryanna Ybarra extended her hit streak to seven games going 1-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, and Zoe Richard went 1-3 at the plate. The last Titan to get a hit was the biggest, as Mikaela Francis hit a three-run home run in her pinch hit appearance to give Fullerton the win.
Davis got the scoring started with a two-RBI single from Riley Siegel in the top of the first and then plated two more in the second courtesy of a solo home run from Meghan Bradbury and an RBI double from Alyse Rojas.
Fullerton would respond with two of their own in the bottom half of the second as Clemetson worked a bases loaded walk and Vandiver singled up the middle to drive in another. That would be all the scoring for the Titans until the seventh though as they could not cash in against the Aggie pitching.
Speaking of the Aggies, they would extend their lead back to four runs after Marissa Jauregui connected for a two-run home run giving Davis a 6-2 lead.
Down to their final three outs, the Titans seemed out of options, but this is definitely a magical year and they would have the last say. Clemetson and Vandiver got things started each knocking singles into left field. Ari Williams followed that up getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hill came through with a big two-RBI single as she split the left-center gap. The hottest hitter in the Big West in Ybarra was up next and she notched an RBI single up the middle to make it a one-run ballgame.
After Richard was robbed of a game-tying base hit on a diving catch by the left fielder, to the plate comes pinch hitter Mikaela Francis. After taking a first pitch strike, she'd watch two ball go by setting up the 2-1 pitch. Kibby delivered and Francis sent everyone home absolutely destroying the offering to the bleachers at field two. Definitely a great birthday present for the senior as she turns 23 years old today. For the Titans, it's their third walkoff home run of the season and it gives them another series sweep.
Cal State Fullerton is back in action as the No. 1 UCLA Bruins come to Anderson Family Field for a midweek matchup. The game is set for Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.
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