FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton (29-21) fought hard all game long neutralizing a high-powered Bruin offense, but ultimately came up short against No. 1 UCLA (45-3) on Tuesday night. The crowd was electric at Anderson Family Field as it was the second highest attendance in a single-game in the park's history.
Trish Parks got the start in the circle and did a fantastic job going three innings only allowing one run on seven hits while striking out five. She would hand the ball over to Sophie Frost for the final four innings. Frost also impressed in the circle, allowing four runs (only one earned) on five hits and five walks while striking out six.
The Titan offense collected six hits in this one, half of which came off the bat of Sammie Vandiver, who went 3-4 with a pair of RBI. Sam Kennedy had two knocks going 2-3 and Zoe Richard was the only other Titan with a hit going 1-3 at the plate.
UCLA wasted no time showing off their high-scoring offense plating a run in the top of the first on an RBI double from Rachel Garcia. Meanwhile, the Titans struggled out of the gate as their first seven hitters were retired before Kennedy broke up perfection with a single. Kelsie Whitmore would pinch run for her and eventually come around to score on an RBI infield single from Vandiver.
The Bruins would reclaim the lead in the top of the fourth on a fielding error with the bases loaded that brought in two runs, but Fullerton would respond with another run in the bottom half as Julia Valenzuela came through with a sac fly to plate Irie Siofele.
Frost got herself into some trouble in the sixth after issuing a pair of walks and giving up a single to load the bases, followed by her third walk of the inning to bring in a run. She would battle back, however, striking out the side to limit the damage.
After a quiet bottom of the sixth against the UCLA ace, the Bruins plated another run in the seventh putting them up by three as the Titans were down to their final three outs. Fullerton would not go quietly though as Brooke Clemetson would reach on a dropped third strike and come around to score on Vandiver's second RBI single of the contest.
That, unfortunately, was all she wrote for the Titans on Tuesday night as they saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end.
Fullerton is back in action and resumes conference play this weekend as they hit the road for the final time to take on Cal Poly.
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