April 13, 2008
FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton senior Katie Gollhardt finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and senior right-hander Jessica Doucette struck out nine in the complete-game effort to help lift the Titans to an 8-4 victory over visiting UC Davis on Sunday afternoon at Anderson Family Field.
The win snaps Fullerton's four-game losing streak as the Titans improved to 19-22-1 overall and 3-6 in Big West Conference play. The Aggies fell to 18-27 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
Gollhardt, batting leadoff for only the second time this season, came up with her second consecutive three-hit game, snapping a 4-4 deadlock with a bases-loaded two-run single back up the middle in the sixth to put the Titans ahead for good.
Senior Kiki Munoz and freshman Ari Cervantes also finished with two hits apiece.
The Titans looked to put the Aggies away early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after four innings. Munoz drove home Fullerton's first run, plating Gollhardt in the first inning with a single through the left side to make it 1-0.
Two more runs came across in the third as Lauren Lupinetti's double scored Munoz to make it 2-0 and Cervantes followed with a single back through the box to score Lupinetti and make it 3-0. An RBI triple by Sheila Holguin in the fourth brought home Gollhardt with the fourth run as the Titans looked to cruise.
However, UC Davis clawed right back into the game with a big fifth inning, rallying for four runs to tie game.
Three straight one-out singles loaded the bases for the Aggies, who plated their first run of the contest when Jenny Corbett walked on a full count offering to make it 4-1. Julie Stauder then followed with a ground ball double to score two more and UC Davis closed out its rally, scoring on a passed ball to make it 4-4.
After both teams went quietly in their next half-innings, Fullerton answered with a four-run rally of its own to take the lead. Cervantes led off with a single and moved to second when the defense couldn't come up with Crystal Vieyra's sacrifice attempt.
Freshman Sammie Dabbs then reached on a fielder's choice when the defense couldn't make a play to load the bases and bring up Gollhardt, who stroked a 1-0 pitch back up the middle to score two and make it 6-4.
After a walk reloaded the bases, Munoz followed with a sac fly to centerfield for the 7-4 advantage and Jenna Wheeler added an RBI single through the left side to close out the scoring.
Doucette (10-10) allowed three earned on six hits to earn her first win since March 20 against New Mexico at the Judi Garman Classic. Alex Holmes (5-12) picked up the loss in relief of starter Jessica Hancock, who earned the no decision after surrendering four runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Holmes allowed two earned on three hits in 2 2/3 innings to close out the game.
Four other Titans notched base hits while Sarah O'Neill finished 2-for-3 to lead the Aggies offense.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action next weekend as the Titans head north to Stockon, Calif., to take on Pacific in a three-game series from April 19-20.