FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton (12-5) took down the Fighting Illini, 4-3, in eight innings on Saturday night. The win marks the fifth consecutive victory for the Titans.
Both the Illini and the Titans started the game with three up, three down first innings, but Fullerton would get the scoring started in the bottom of the second courtesy of Irie Siofele's second home run of the season.
Buh-bye ball ��@ISiofele hits her second big fly of the year to give us the early lead! #TusksUp
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 1, 2020
�� @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/hpA0WHg1Ib
CSF would tack on another run in the bottom of the third courtesy of a Sam Kennedy dinger. Her first of the 2020 season would make it a 2-0 lead for Fullerton.
TO THE BERM! @sam_kennedy5 didn't miss that one and sends it out for her first HR of the season! #TusksUp
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 1, 2020
�� @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/SsyrL3qa5j
On the other side of the ball, Sophie Frost was dealing to start the ballgame. She retired 11 of the first 12 Illini hitters before surrendering a hit. Unfortunately a costly Sam Kennedy error would extend the inning for Illinois and they took advantage, plating two runs. Frost's line ended at 4.1 innings allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a walk while notching three strikeouts.
The Illini would threaten in the fifth with runners on the corners and one out, forcing Coach Ford to make a pitching change. Trish Parks would take over in the circle and strike out back-to-back hitters to escape the jam unscathed.
Fullerton would break the tie and reclaim the lead in the sixth on a wild pitch that allowed Taylor Tropp to slide in safely.
Needing three outs to close out the victory, Parks would surrender a one-out single. The runner would move up to second on a sacrifice bunt and ultimately come in to score on another Kennedy error sending the game into extras.
After a clutch inning from Parks with help from Kiana Parrish, the Titans got out of the eighth inning still tied at three.
In the home half, Fullerton would have Megan Delgadillo placed on second and moved up to third on a groundout. Daisy Munoz would come to the plate with one out and lay down a bunt allowing Delgadillo to slide in safely and give the Titans the win.
Cal State Fullerton will close out the Judi Garman Classic with a doubleheader tomorrow as they take on No. 2 Washington and Fresno State. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
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Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
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