RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton softball team won both games of the day against UC Riverside on Saturday at Amy S. Harrison Field to get the series win over the Highlanders.
The Titans improved to 19-14 overall and 6-2 in conference play. The Titans have won eight conference series in a row against UC Riverside.
Game 1: Cal State Fullerton 3, UC Riverside 2 (Eight Innings)
Daisy Munoz provided the late game heroics in the eighth inning against the Highlanders as she legged out an infield single to bring in the winning run against the Highlanders in the first game of the series
Aye Aye Captain ��
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 1, 2023
Munoz legs out a single and Becerra comes out to score to give the Titans a 3-2 lead!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/V9SRzmhbqg
The Titans rallied late in the comeback win over the Highlanders as they had to overcome a 2-0 deficit from the first inning. The Titans scored once in the fourth, fifth, and the final inning.
Hannah Becerra hit her sixth homerun of the season as she cranked one over the left field fence to halve the deficit at 2-1.
T4 | Becerra Blast No. 6⃣ of the season!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/yHTSosVdll
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 1, 2023
The Titans tied the game up in the next inning when Deshea Hill hit a hard ball to the shortstop who booted the ball into the outfield to score the tying run.
M5 | @hill_deshea ties this one up on an infield error to make it a 2-2 game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/WtahZSIwyk
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 1, 2023
In the eighth inning, Hannah Becerra got on base and came around to score from second on Munoz's infield single to the second baseman.
Myka Sutherlin tossed a complete game in eight innings against UC Riverside. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, three walks, and 13 punchouts.
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 1, UC Riverside 0
Haley Rainey tossed her first complete game shutout as a member of Cal State Fullerton as the Titans secured the 1-0 victory over UC Riverside in the second game of the day.
Rainey pitched seven innings and allowed zero runs on four hits, one walk, and matched her Titan career high with 9 strikeouts.
The Titans had seven hits for the game but they left 10 runners on base. Hannah Becerra led the offense by going 2-for-3 with 1 RBI.
The Titans scored the only run of the game in the third inning. Anaiya Mitchell led the inning off with a double to left field. Alexa Neil sac bunted her over and Hannah Becerra squeeze bunted to score Mitchell.
T3 | @hhannahh20 lays down the squeeze bunt to score Anaiya Mitchell and the Titans take a 1-0 lead!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/BWDmnHuhNt
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 1, 2023
This was all the Titans needed as Rainey only allowed two Highlanders to reach second base for the game.
The Titans will go for the series sweep tomorrow at Amy S. Harrison Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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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