PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO, MEXICO - The Cal State State Fullerton Titan's softball pulled a big upset in their first game of the day on Saturday after defeating the #8 Tennessee Lady Volunteers in a close game before falling to North Dakota State in the second game of the day.
Cal State Fullerton 5, #8 Tennessee 4
The Titans continued their lucky streak against SEC opponents as they won their third game in a row against the SEC conference after beating LSU in the regionals last year and Ole Miss the night before.
The last time the Titans defeated a Top-10 ranked opponent was last year at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic when they defeated #8 Arizona. The Titans haven't defeated Tennessee since 1999.
The Titans utilized three horses working staff with Raci Miranda drawing the start. She picked up the win after allowing three runs (2 earned), on six hits, zero walks, and three strikeouts. Haley Rainey tossed one inning in relief where she allowed one run in 1.1 innings of work on zero hits, 2 walks, and one strikeout. Myka Sutherlin tossed the final 1.2 frames and allowed zero runs on one hit, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Seven of the Titan starters had at least one hit in the game. Daisy Munoz led the team with two hits. Hannah Becerra led the team with 2 RBIs and a home run.
The Titans defense also made two fantastic plays and robbed two potential homeruns.
.@megdelgadillo37 WITH THE ROBBERY to end the frame from the Lady Vols!!! ����#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Tiwyv2HgsB
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
Tennessee struck first after once again benefitting on an error by the Titan defense to start the frame.
The Titans responded immediately with a home run way over the left center fence by Hannah Bacerra
T4 | @hhannahh20 GOT ALL OF THAT ONE!! ����#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/WU9IXbKmmf
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
The Titans went ahead for the first time in the fifth inning putting up two runs.
The Titans loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Megan Delgadillo chopped one past the diving shortstop. Hannah Becerra was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to score a run.
However, Teneessee responded immediately with a 2-run homerun to make it a 3-3 game. Bailey Wallace robbed a home run to keep the score tied at 3-3.
B5 | @baileywalll robs a potential Tennessee home run to keep it a tie game!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/fZhQjGUvzW
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
In the sixth inning the Titans added two huge insurance runs. Daisy Munoz singled and Alexia Lopez doubled to right center to put both runners in scoring position. Deshea Hill had a productive ground out to plate one run.
T6 | @hill_deshea with a productive out to bring in a run! The Titans retake a 4-3 lead!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/JBPHutOdXY
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
Antuanett Dean followed her up with a single to shortstop for another RBI.
T6 | @AntuanettD with an infield base hit to bring in another run to make it a 5-3 game!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/QeqIVwzR8U
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
After Tennessee loaded the bases in the sixth inning. Sutherlin was able to an get an RBI sac fly and another fly out to end the frames for the Lady Volunteers in the sixth.
The Lady Volunteers made things interesting at the end of the game. They loaded the bases with two outs before Myka Sutherlin was able to get the North Dakota girl to chase and strikeout to end the game.
BALLGAME! @meeksmyka gets the strikeout with bases juiced and the Titans take down #8/#11 Tennessee 5-4!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/joFnWZjBnQ
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
Cal State Fullerton 1, North Dakota State 2
After having a thirty minute break from action after the Titan's big win over the Lady Volunteers, the Titans couldn't muster the energy to pull off two wins on Saturday afternoon.
The Titans once again threw all three of their workhorses in Sutherlin, Rainey, and Miranda. However, Sutherlin suffered the loss after allowing two runs. Paige Vargas threw a 7-inning complete game for North Dakota State.
The Titans struck first in the inning after Megan Delgadillo led off the game with a base hit. She stole second and advanced to third on the throw. Hannah Becerra smoked one over the center fielder's head for a ground-rule double to give the Titans an early lead.
T1 | Becerra ropes one over the CF's head for a ground rule double to bring in one run. The Titans take an early 1-0 lead over NDSU#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/wdGRBoqata
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 18, 2023
The Titans had runners in scoring position with two outs but couldn't bring in any more runs.
North Dakota responded with one run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at one all.
The Titans had a great chance to tack on another run in the second after Bailey Wallace, Antuanett Dean, and Megan Delgadillo all had base hits in the inning. But the Titans couldn't push another run across the dish the rest of the way.
The Bisons would take a slim one run lead in the third inning after a double and a single. The Titans would only get two more runners on base the rest of the game.
The Titans will finish up play at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge with a game against Liberty. First pitch is set for 7:30 AM PST. After the game, the Titans will do a free clinic with the local youth in the area.
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch home contests exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for Titans Athletics. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.
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