April 13, 2009

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton junior infielder Francesca Gonzales was named the Big West Conference Co-Player of the Week on Monday morning after helping the Titans to a sweep of UC Davis and a share of first place in the league standings.

It is the first career weekly conference honor for Gonzales and the second for a Titan this season after freshman teammate Samantha Dollarhide earned weekly laurels on March 16 following a spectacular showing at the Judi Garman Classic.

Gonzales shared this week's honor with Cal Poly's Krysten Cary.

The junior transfer from Mt. San Antonio College had a big weekend in Northern California, batting .545 (6-for-11) for the weekend with three runs scored, two key home runs, and five RBI. She slugged 1.091 for the weekend.

Gonzales opened the series with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, driving in the eventual game-winner with a solo home run in the second inning and later adding a two-run single as part of a five-run sixth inning to help break open a close game.

In game two of the series, she singled and came around to score the go-ahead run in the fourth on teammate Trina Harrison's three-run home run as part of a five-run outburst and added two hits and a pair of RBI in game three, including the game-tying home run in the fifth as the Titans went on to win, 7-2.

For the season, Gonzales is batting .327 with seven home runs and 21 RBI to go along with six doubles and 11 runs scored.

Cal State Fullerton returns to the diamond with a three-game series at Anderson Family Field next weekend as the Titans welcome Pacific to southern California. The series opens on Saturday (Apr. 18) with a doubleheader at noon and concludes with a single game on Sunday (Apr. 19), also at 12 p.m.