FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans softball team dropped their final game at the 2023 Judi Garman Classic after falling to the No. 2 Ucla Bruins 6-2 at Anderson Family Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Titans (11-9) finished off the tournament with a 2-3 record after dropping games to Michigan and Minnesota along with the loss to the Bruins. The Titans picked up wins over San Jose State and the University of Central Florida.
Two costly errors ended up haunting the Titans, as five of the six Bruin runs were unearned runs that came after errors.
Haley Rainey got the start and pitched 4.1 innings allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
M4 | UCLA gets the first three batters on base and scores one but Rainey strikes out the side on the next three at-bats!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/HZfxAyNyPJ
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
Raci Miranda pitched the final 2.2 frames and allowed 4 runs (zero earned) on three hits and two walks.
The Bruins took an early lead in the first inning after a lead-off walk and a double by Megan Grant.
They added a second run in the fourth that came as the result of the first Titan error of the day. An error on a fielder's choice ended up putting a Bruin runner on third base. The runner would score on a base hit to left field to make it a 2-0 game.
The Titans tied it up in the fifth inning after Evelyn Sablan crushed a 2-run over the left centerfield fence.
END 5 | @evelyn_sablan TIES THE GAME UP WITH A 2-RUN ��against UCLA#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Vk2S6QoWBz
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
The Bruins would score four in the top of the sixth inning after the costly second error of the game by the Titans. The Bruins had two runners on with two outs in the inning and a throwing error by the shortstop allowed one run to score unearned. The Titans intentionally walked Maya Brady to load the bases and Sharlzie Palacios hit a triple off the right field fence to plate three runners. The Titans should've been out of the inning with the score tied 2-2 instead it was 6-2 and all the Bruins would need to pick up the victory over the Titans.
The Titans will host two midweek games on Wednesday against Baylor Boston University before tri-hosting their final non-conference tournament with Long Beach State and LMU. First pitch is set for 4:00 pm and the second game will be played thirty minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
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