Weekly Release (PDF) Hawai'i Release (PDF)

A LOOK AT THE WEEK: After dropping two of three games against Long Beach State last weekend, the Cal State Fullerton softball team (16-22 overall, 3-6 Big West Conference) returns to Anderson Family Field this week to square off against San Diego State University and the University of Hawai'i. The Aztecs currently possess a 25-13 record overall and are 5-1 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Rainbow Wahine have a 31-7 overall record and are currently in first place of the Big West with 9-0 conference record. San Diego State and Fullerton will play one game on Wednesday April 10 at 6 p.m. Hawai'i and Cal State Fullerton will meet in a doubleheader on Saturday (April 13) at 4 & 6 p.m., before concluding the series with a single game on Sunday (April 14) at 12 p.m.  

IN THE POLLS: San Diego State enters Wednesday's matchup not ranked, but is receiving votes in ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. Hawai'i enters the weekend  series ranked 15th overall in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and 20th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Titans are not ranked in either poll. 

BLUE & ORANGE NIGHT: The Titans want all fans to show their Titan pride by wearing blue and orange to the game on Wednesday April 10. 

ARMED FORCES NIGHT: The Cal State Fullerton softball team would like to welcome all military personnel to Anderson Family Field on Saturday April 13. Two free tickets will be provided for past & present military personnel.

PINK DAY: The Cal State Fullerton softball team will host its fifth-annual "Power in Pink" Day to support breast cancer research and awareness on Sunday (April 14) during its Big West Conference series finale with Hawai'i at Anderson Family Field. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to show their support. 

RPI: The Titans currently rank 55th in the nation in Rating Percentage Index (RPI). RPI measures a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule. Fullerton has played against five teams currently ranked in the top 10 and against eight teams in the top 25.

BE A FOLLOWER: Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan athletics by following us on Facebook (CSUF Athletics), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and Youtube (www.youtube.com/CSFAthletics). Also follow the softball Twitter (@CSUFsoftball).

I NEED STATS, STAT!: Live stats will be provided for all three games this week. To access live stats for the games, go to www.FullertonTitans.com and go to the softball schedule then click live stats.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?: Cal State Fullerton home softball contests will be broadcast live over the Internet at FullertonTitans.com. To access the links, click on the audio link on the schedule page.

CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? EVEN BETTER!: Cal State Fullerton Athletics now offers live streaming video for home softball contests over the Internet courtesy of the Big WestTV. Fans can catch all the exclusive action from the comfort of their home computers. For more information, please visit www.BigWest.org/TV.

SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE: The Aztecs, who are 25-13 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain West Conference, enter Wednesday's game on a roll, winning their last 12 of 13 games. SDSU is coming off a 4-2 loss against Nevada last Sunday...the Aztecs are 2-1 versus the Big West, defeating Cal Poly (5-2), UC Riverside (9-1), while falling to Long Beach State (5-4). Lorena Bauer leads the team with a .410 batting average and 36 RBI's, while red shirt junior Patrice Jackson leads the team with 10 home runs. The Aztecs are batting .302 as a team and have outscored opponents 146-81 this season. Danielle O'Toole (10-5, 1.61) and Rebecca Arbino (14-8, 1.87) control the pitching for SDSU. Arbino has 130 strikeouts this season in 135 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .243 against the Aztecs this season. 

SCOUTING HAWAI'I: The Rainbow Wahine (31-7 overall, 9-0 Big West) enter the weekend series on an 11 game winning streak with their last loss coming on March 15 against Baylor (5-3). In their first season as a member of the Big West, the Rainbow Wahine have rolled through the conference and currently stand in first place...two-time Big West player of the week Leisha Li'ili'i leads the team with a .324 batting average and 33 RBI's...Jessica Iwata has added 24 RBI's and Kelly Majam has contributed 27 RBI's...the Rainbow Wahine have outscored opponents 184-71...four-time Big West pitcher of the week Kaia Parnaby (28-3, 1.19) is the ace for Hawai'i tossing 28 complete games, 10 shutouts and recording 265 strikeouts so far this season. The senior left-hander has held opponents to a .182 batting average this season. 

SERIES HISTORIES: Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with San Diego State, 46-17, but the Aztecs have won seven of the last eight meetings with the Titans' only win in that stretch coming at the 2009 NCAA Regionals in Tempe, Ariz., by the score of 8-2 that eliminated SDSU from the postseason... the Aztecs won both meetings last season 10-0 on April 25 and 12-4 on May 2... Fullerton is 24-8 all-time against San Diego State at Anderson Family field, but has lost its last five contests in Fullerton, Calif.  The Titans lead the all-time series against Hawai'i 47-10 and have won the last six of seven games between the two schools...Hawai'i won the last meeting 12-3 on Feb. 21, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nev...The Titans are 21-3 all-time versus the Rainbow Wahine at home and haven't lost at home against Hawai'i since March 28, 1999 when the Titans were defeated 4-2. 

CONFERENCE CALL: Fullerton is 120-57-1 (.674) all-time against Mountain West conference opponents  and since the Big West conference started sponsoring softball 27 years ago, the Titans have a combined record of 374-169-1 (.688) against all-time Big West opponents. 

NEW LOOK BIG WEST: The Big West Conference Board of Directors announced on Dec. 10, 2010 that Hawai'i will re-join the Big West as of July 2012. The Warriors, women's programs were previously part of the Big West from 1984-96. The Titans and Warriors will face off on April 13-14 at Anderson Family Field. 

PLAYING SPOILER: The Titans have taken down three top 25 ranked opponents this season, which is tied for most in the Big West. On Feb. 26th, Fullerton defeated No. 10 11-5 at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles and defeated No. 7 Missouri 5-4 on Feb. 23, 2013 at Anderson Family Field. Fullerton also defeated No. 21 Virginia Tech 7-3 at the Judi Garman Classic on Mar. 16. The last time the Titans took down a top ten team was on March 15, 2009 when they defeated the University of Washington 3-2 at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. 

LABAN MOVING UP ON RECORDS: Senior Katey Laban recorded her second save of the season and fourth in her career moving her up to sixth all-time in career saves for a Cal State Fullerton pitcher.

WEDNESDAY GAMES: The Titans have only played one Wednesday game so far this season, losing to Notre Dame 3-0 on March 13th. Last season Fullerton played four hump day contests and loss each contest (Notre Dame, Purdue, San Diego State twice). 

HITTING STREAK: Catcher Ariel Tsuchiyama currently has a five-game hitting streak tying Ashley Carter for the longest hitting streak this season. Earlier in the season Tsuchiyama reached base safely 14 times in a row, but that streak was snapped. 

PITCHING RECOVERY: In 51 games last season the Titans pitching staff finished with a 5.20 ERA. In 2013, the Titans pitching staff holds a 3.37 ERA, which  is the best earned run average by a Fullerton softball team since 2009 (2.59).

CRAWFORD ENJOYING BREAKOUT ROLE: After hitting only three home runs and recording 28 RBI's through her first two seasons as a Titan, red-shirt sophomore Eliza Crawford has batted .315 with five home runs and 18 RBI's. Crawford leads the team in both offensive categories and through the first six conference games has batted .400 with four RBI's and two runs scored. The Lakewood, Calif. native has also managed nine multiple hit games this season and six multiple RBI games this season. 

GETTIN' ON THE BOARD FIRST: When the Titans score first in a game they are 11-3 compared to 5-19 when the opposing team scores first. Fullerton scored the first four runs of the game versus Long Beach State last Sunday April 7th, but would eventually lose the game 7-4. 

WE NEED HITS: The Titans are batting .246 this season and .264 in conference play, but when Cal State Fullerton out-hits the opponent they are 13-2 compared to 3-17 when the opponent out-hits them. The Titans have produced 13 hits in one game, the most this season, four different times. Last time the time the Titans had 13 hits was versus UC Santa Barbara on March 23.

TAKE CARE OF THE SOFTBALL: Cal State Fullerton are only 11-10 when they commit no errors in a game and 5-12 when they do commit an error. However, the Titans have only committed four errors in the past 116 innings and rank first in the Big West in fielding percentage (.975) compared to Pacific (.968). The Titans rank 15th in the NCAA in fielding percentage. 

CONTROLLING THE LEAD: The Titans have been perfect so far this season when leading after five innings. Fullerton is 12-0 in games they have led after five innings and a whopping 13-0 after six innings. However, they are 3-16 when trailing after four innings. Cal State Fullerton's only comeback win came against UC Santa Barbara on March 23 when they scored six runs in the last two innings after trailing 3-0. 

CARTER STEALING BASES: Carter is finding a way to get on base and this season she leads the team with 11 stolen bases. The Fontana, Calif. native swiped three bases versus UC Santa Barbara Carter. The senior had only stolen 11 bases in her career (three seasons) prior to this season.

BIG WEST STOLEN BASES: After nine Big West Conference games, the Cal State Fullerton softball team leads the Big West in stolen bases with 15. The Titans have the third most stolen bases (45) in the Big West for the whole season. 

SACRIFICE FLIES: Sophomore Desiree Ybarra currently is tied in the NCAA in sacrifice flies with six and the Titans as a team have the most in the Big West 12. 

SHOULDERING THE LOAD: In 32 appearances, 27 starts,  as a freshman, Antunez is second in the Big West in appearances (32), tied for third in strikeouts (129), and second in innings pitched (130.1). Antunez is holding opponents to a .221 batting average this season, which ranks third in the Big West. 

YBARRA DOES IT ALL: Sophomore Desiree Ybarra was the Titan's ace last season, but this season she has contributed not only in the circle, but at the plate as well. Ybarra in the circle is 5-9 with one save. Ybarra has closed out 17 games for the Titans this season, which is the most in the Big West. Ybarra's bat has been a big addition for the Titans. The Riverside, Calif. native has a .278 batting average, two home runs, and 17 RBI's. 

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER: Eight different Titans have tallied game-winning hits this season, led by three from Jasmine Antunez. 

SUPER MARIO: Cal State Fullerton second baseman Lauren Mario belted two home runs versus Charleston Southern, which is the first time a Titan batter has hit two home runs in a game since Anissa Young crushed two against Michigan State on March 4, 2012. 

SOMEONE TURNED UP THE A.C: After blasting a triple to the center field fence in game two versus McNeese State on Feb. 11, 2013, Ashley Carter moved up to fourth on the all-time list in career triples with nine tieing Carey Hess, who played for the Titans from 1987-90.

IRON WOMEN: Catcher Ariel Tsuchiyama has started all, but two games behind the backstop for the Titans this season, while leading the Titans with eight doubles and has 17 RBI's to go along with her .303 batting average. She missed all of 2012 due to an injury. 

SAVES: Cal State Fullerton leads the Big West with the most saves in the Big West (4). Each Titan pitcher has recorded a save this season, and senior Katey Laban has two. 

FORD UPDATES 2013 SEASON: Cal State Fullerton Head Coach Kelly Ford sat down with the sports information staff to discuss the 2013 season thus far. Filmed by department videographer Matt Brown, fans can view the entire video via Youtube.com/CSFAthletics.

GETTING ON BASE: The Titans are last in the Big West in on-base percentage (.302) compared to Hawai'i who has an on-base percentage of .373. 

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Eliza Crawford, Desiree Ybarra, and Ariel Tsuchiyama have combined for 22 doubles this season. 

DEBUTS AND TITAN CAREER FIRSTS: Freshman Monique Wesley made her first career appearance as a Titan in the circle tossing one inning versus Arizona State on March 14. Junior Kailey Mertz, transfer from San Jose State, recorded her first hit against Charleston Southern. Mertz hit an RBI single up the middle giving the Titans a 10-2 victory enforcing an eight-run rule. Freshman Cami Jacob managed her first hit of her career after driving a double down the left field line against Charleston Southern on March 8th during the Long Beach State Invitational. 

COMEBACK!: The Titans secured their biggest and latest comeback win of the season. Trailing 3-0 after five innings, Fullerton came back to score three in the sixth and three in the seventh to capture a 6-3 victory over UC Santa Barbara on March 23. 

HOME IS WHERE THE POWER IS: Fullerton returns to Anderson Family Field this weekend and while at home the Titans have belted 12 of their 17 home runs this season. On March 8 versus Charleston Southern the Titans slugged three round-trippers. The Titans rank third in the Big West in home runs behind leader Hawaii (42).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Titans have played seven away games this season (4-3) coming against UCLA,Santa Barbara, and Long Beach State. The Titans last season were 5-10 on the road and have not had a winning road record since the 2009 season. 

RECYCLED NOTES:

NEW ERA: Head Coach Kelly Ford began her first stint as the head coach of Cal State Fullerton softball program on Feb. 7, 2013. Ford recorded her first win in game two versus Southern Miss, 4-2. Ford spent 11 seasons at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., recording a 455-102-1 record overall (.812 winning percentage). Prior to her time at Mt. SAC, Ford worked under former coach Michelle Gromacki as an assistant in 2000 and 2001. 

A QUICK LOOK AT THE TITANS: Fullerton finished sixth in the Big West race a season ago with a 8-13 mark in conference play to go along with a 20-31 overall record. The Titans return six position starters and three pitchers while welcoming nine newcomers to the fold for the 2013 season. Leading the way for returners is senior outfielder Ashley Carter, an all-conference first-team selection who hit .325 to go along with 55 hits and 27 runs scored. In the circle, sophomore Desiree Ybarra returns after earning all-conference honorable mention accolades a season ago, finishing 13-17 with a 4.66 ERA.

FIVE SIGN WITH CAL STATE FULLERTON FOR 2014: Cal State Fullerton softball Head Coach Kelly Ford announced that high school standouts  Sydney Colenzo, Megan Estacio, Olivia Martinez, Delynn Rippy, and Kayla Silverstein have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Titans beginning with the 2014 season. 

TAKING DOWN THE BRUINS: After defeating UCLA 11-5 on Feb. 26th the Titans  not only took home a victory to add to the win column, but a new record. The Titans scored the most runs against UCLA since April 25, 1989 when they scored seven runs. The 11-run tally is the most in 73 meetings between the two schools.

PLAYING JAPAN TOYOTA: The Titans played against the Japan Toyota professional softball team on Wednesday February 20, 2013 at Anderson Family Field, losing 7-1. The Titans and Japan Toyota played seven-inning exhibition contest, as Japan Toyota gets ready for their upcoming season. Team Toyota comes over to the United States annually to play collegiate and professional teams to prepare for the Japan Softball League. Team Toyota features USA Softball Olympians Monica Abbott and Natasha Watley, who have won back-to-back Japan Softball League Championships (2011 & 2012).

PRESEASON POLL: The Cal State Fullerton softball team was picked to finish sixth in the race for the 2013 Big West Conference title according to a vote of the league's head coaches released on Jan. 30, 2013. The Titans received 33 points to finish behind newcomer Hawai'i, which received four first-place votes and 76 points to top defending  champion Long Beach State (73 points):

1. Hawai'i, 76 

2. Long Beach State, 73 

3. Pacific, 58 

4. UC Santa Barbara, 52 

5. UC Davis, 51

6. Cal State Fullerton, 33

7. Cal Poly, 24

8. UC Riverside, 22

9. Cal State Northridge, 16

WRATH OF THE TITANS: Among the league's top offensive teams in 2011, 2012 wasn't anything different as the Titans finished second in runs scored, second in stolen bases, and third in RBIs. The 2012 Titans finished with a .280 batting average topping 2011's .275 average. Cal State Fullerton also produced the most hits (365) in program history since 2007. 

WE'RE HONORED: Cal State Fullerton placed seven players on the 2012 Big West Conference all-league honors: Ashley Carter, Leesa Harris, Nicole Johnson, Morgan LeMond, Adriana Martinez, Desiree Ybarra, and Anissa Young). Three of those all-conference honorees return for 2013: Ashley Carter, Leesa Harris, and Desiree Ybarra. 

FORD PREVIEWS 2013: Cal State Fullerton Head Coach Kelly Ford  and Associate Head Coach Dee Dee Kingsbury sat down with the sports information staff to discuss the upcoming 2013 campaign. Filmed by department videographer Matt Brown, fans can view the entire video via Youtube.com/CSFAthletics.

TITANS VERSUS RANKED TEAMS

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION RESULT

FEB. 17 No. 7 Oregon Las Vegas, Nev. L, 6-0

FEB. 21 No. 4 Tennessee Palm Springs, Calif. L, 5-0

FEB. 23 No. 7 Missouri Fullerton, Calif. W, 5-4

FEB. 23 No. 7 Missouri Fullerton, Calif. L, 7-0

FEB. 26 No. 10 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. W, 11-5

MAR. 2 No. 15 Stanford Fullerton, Calif. L, 14-1

MAR. 7 No. 24 Virginia Tech Lakewood, Calif. L, 3-2

MAR. 14 No. 2 Arizona State Fullerton, Calif. L, 9-0

MAR. 16 No. 21 Virginia Tech Fullerton, Calif. W, 7-3

MAR. 17 No. 1 Oklahoma Fullerton, Calif. L, 9-0

*Ranking when game occurred