SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton (22-13, 2-0 BWC) swept the doubleheader, 1-0 and 6-2, against UC Santa Barbara (6-27, 0-2 BWC) to start Big West play. Junior Sophie Frost led the team picking up both wins while throwing a combined 12.2 scoreless innings on the day.
Frost got the game one start and was dominant against the Gauchos throwing a complete game shutout, her third of the season. For the junior right-hander it marks her 10th win of the season.
Both teams struggled at the plate, but more so the Titans as their only two hits in the ballgame were bunt singles off the bats of Ari Williams and Kelsie Whitmore.
Their lone run of the contest came in the fifth inning as Whitmore came through with a two-out bunt single. She would then steal second and eventually come around to score on a Gaucho error.
With the win, Fullerton is now 14-1 when scoring first in ballgames.
TOP PERFORMERS
Kelsie Whitmore: 1-for-2, R, SB
Ari Williams: 1-for-3, SB
Sophie Frost (W, 10-4): CG SHO, 7 IP, 7 H, BB, 4 K
The Titans would have a quick turnaround as they were set for game two of the doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara.
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After a pair of scoreless frames for both sides to open up game two, Daisy Munoz broke up the shutout launching her fifth home run of the season to left field. The solo shot made it 1-0 in the early going for the Titans.
UCSB would respond right away though recording four straight hits against Dani Martinez leading to two runs and putting the Titans behind 2-1.
Sophie Frost would return to the mound after her complete game shutout and escape further damage in the third.
Fullerton would have an answer of their own though in the top of the fourth. After Sam Kennedy led the inning off with a single and moved into scoring position on a groundout, Julia Valenzuela split the right-center gap for an RBI double to tie the game up at two.
Both pitchers would be lock down in the circle for the latter half of the game as neither team could get anything across as the Titans and Gauchos headed to extra innings.
Irie Siofele would get the eighth started with a bang as she launched the second pitch of the inning deep down the left field line for a solo home run.
The Titans would add some insurance as Kelsie Whitmore would come through with an RBI double eventually followed by a two-RBI triple from Ari Williams to make it a 6-2 game.
With the doubleheader sweep, Fullerton now has a 100-game advantage in the all-time series against UCSB, sitting at 117 wins and just 17 losses. They also move to 15-1 when scoring first.
TOP PERFORMERS
Irie Siofele: 2-for-4, game-winning HR
Julia Valenzuela: 3-for-4, 2B, game-tying RBI
Kelsie Whitmore: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R
Ari Williams: 1-for-4, 3B, 2RBI, SB
Dani Martinez: 2.1 IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB
Sophie Frost (W, 11-4): 5.2 IP, 2 H, 2 K (on a 17 scoreless inning streak)
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