FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton (30-15, 10-2 Big West) swept Saturday's doubleheader against Hawai'i (27-13, 8-4 Big West) with a 9-8 walk-off win in game one and an 8-0 run-rule win in game two and completed the series sweep of the Rainbow Wahine. It's the 11th consecutive Big West series victory for the Titans and have now won 22 of their last 25 with 14 sweeps.
Game one was a battle of offenses with Hawai'i getting the first run in the top of the first as a bases loaded walk brought in the game's first run. The 'Bows would strike for two more in the second on a two-out, two-RBI double.
Fullerton would respond in the bottom half on an RBI single from Sam Kennedy and then tie the game up in the third on back-to-back RBI singles from Deshea Hill and Zoe Richard.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Rainbow Wahine would get two more runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to get their lead back up to five.
However, the Titans would respond with a huge four-run sixth inning. After consecutive singles from Julia Valenzuela and Kelsie Whitmore, Alexa Neil would send a three-run home run over the left field fence to bring the Titans to within two runs.
Ari Williams would come to the plate next and rope a double over the left fielder's head and come in to score on Hill's third hit of the game.
Dani Martinez would enter the game and toss a scoreless seventh to set the scene for the bottom half.
Janelle Rodriguez started the inning with a pinch hit single to the left side of the infield and Sam Kennedy followed it up with a two-run home run to dead center to give Fullerton the 9-8 walk-off victory. It's the eighth walk-off win of the season and Kennedy's second career walk-off home run.
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After the usual 30-minute break between games, the Titans and 'Bows would matchup for the series finale and it turned out to be a very one-sided contest.
Scoring two runs in the first including a home run from Hill, the Titans took the early lead.
Fullerton would then come up in the third and plate three more runs on a Neil RBI single and a two-run home run off the bat of Williams.
Three more runs came in to score in the third as Kelsie Whitmore blasted a three-run jack to left-center giving the Titans their 8-0 lead. It was the team's fifth home run of the day and third of the game.
In the circle, Dani Martinez was nearly unhittable. After a perfect first inning, she allowed a walk in the second, walk in the third, and a hit by pitch in the fourth, as she cruised through four no-hit innings.
The freshman right-hander got a strikeout for the first out in the fifth followed by a fly out to center for the second out. Martinez had Hawaii's Carly Pina was down to her last strike, but Pina doubled to right-center ending the no-hit bid.
The next 'Bow batter would foul out to end the ballgame giving the Titans the 8-0 victory in five innings.
Cal State Fullerton is back in sole possession of first place, but will have a tough task as they head up to UC Davis next weekend for a three-game set with the second-place Aggies.
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