FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans softball team defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 7-1 on Friday night at Anderson Family Field.
The Titans improved to 25-16 overall and 12-4 in Big West Play. The Gauchos fell to 23-14 and 10-6 in Big West Play.
Deshea Hill and Myka Sutherlin continued their fine form in Friday's game. Myka Sutherlin tossed a complete game and allowed just one run on three hits, two walks, and matched her career-high with 14 strikeouts (a new personal Big West for Sutherlin). Sutherlin struck out the side three different times in the game and had at least one strikeout in every inning.
BALLGAME! @meeksmyka strikes out the side in the final frame and the Titans defeat the Gauchos 7-1 in the series opener!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ukh5gtVdgt
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 22, 2023
This was the first run Sutherlin has allowed in 28.2 innings. Sutherlin has struck out 45 batters and walked just 6 batters during that span.
Deshea Hill was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs and one home run in the game. Hill has had at least one RBI in five straight games.
The Titans took the lead in the second inning after Deshea Hill deposited her second home run of the season over the left field fence on a solo blast.
HIT IT TO THE HILL! @hill_deshea #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/HfZIU1Egec
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 22, 2023
In the fourth inning, the Titans added two more runs. Hannah Becerra led the inning off with her 8th home run of the season.
Oppo ��!! @hhannahh20 #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ckRiZ44VU4
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 22, 2023
Peyton Toto hit a double over the left fielder's head and Deshea Hill ripped a double off the left center fence to score Toto and give the Titans a 3-0 lead.
B4 | @hill_deshea barrel's another one off the wall to make it a 3-0 game for the Titans!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/XvUgKAamLr
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 22, 2023
Hill got her final RBI of the night in the fifth inning. The Titans loaded the bases on a Jessi Alcala single, Becerra hit by pitch, and Toto walked. Hill hit a sac fly to right field to bring in a run.
UCSB got one run back in the 6th inning after a Donaldson walk and Alexa Sams double. However, Sutherlin struck out the next two batters.
The Titans tagged on three more insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning. Alexa Neil and Bailey Wallace led the inning off with walks. Alcala sac bunted the mover. Daisy Munoz brought in a run after a throwing error by the third baseman.
The Titans loaded the bases for Peyton Toto. She beat out a potential inning double play, but the throw to first bounced and the first baseman couldn't field it which allowed the Titans to score two runs on the play.
B6 | Toto beats out a potential inning ending double play and the Titans capitalize and score two on the play! The Titans lead 7-1#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/C5a73EIB01
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 22, 2023
The Titans will return home to Anderson Family Field and finish the series in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 pm.
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.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Twitter (fullerton_sb) and Instagram accounts (fullerton_sb)