FULLERTON, CALIF. – A late error by Cal State Fullerton center fielder Ashley Carter allowed San Diego State third baseman Leia Ruiz to score from first base and helped propel SDSU over Cal State Fullerton 2-1 at Anderson Family Field Wednesday night.
With the game tied at one in the top of the seventh, San Diego State's Monica Downey hit a line drive single up the middle that bounced under Carter and rolled all the way to the wall allowing Ruiz to score from first. The Titans would have no answer in the bottom of the seventh inning and with the loss the Titans fall to 16-23 on the season, while the Aztecs improve to 26-13 and have now defeated the Titans the last nine of ten meetings and six straight times in Fullerton, Calif.
After four innings of scoreless softball, the Aztecs got on the board first with a one-out single up the middle from Downey. The Titans would then tie the game up at one in the bottom of the sixth inning after an RBI triple to the left center gap from shortstop Samantha Galarza scored Carter from first base.
SDSU starter Rebecaa Arbino (15-8) tossed a complete game giving up one run off four hits, while striking out nine. Arbino allowed just two hits until the sixth inning and found herself in only one jam in the first inning after two runners reached off errors by second baseman Katie Mathis.
Cal State Fullerton's Monique Wesley drew her first career start and second career appearance throwing five innings. The Fontana, Calif. native gave up one run off six hits, while issuing two walks and striking out three. Desiree Ybarra (5-10) records the loss after giving up one run, unearned, off two hits in two innings of work.
Melissa Sechrest and Leesa Harris added hits for Cal State Fullerton and Monica Downey recorded two hits for SDSU in the win.
The Titans return to Anderson Family Field for a doubleheader against the University of Hawai'i on Saturday April 14 at 4 & 6 p.m. before concluding the series with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m. The Rainbow Wahine enter the weekend ranked 15th according to USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.
Game Note: Ariel Tsuchiyama snaps her five-game hitting streak after failing to get a hit on Wednesday night. The Titans fall to 3-18 on the seaso when they are out-hit by opponents.