FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton transfer Missy Taukeiaho led the conference this week in batting average (.615) en route to earning Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honors, while teammate Jasmine Antunez picked up two wins and was crowned the Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the conference on Monday.
Taukeiaho pioneered the Titans to their first 5-0 start since the 2000 season, while leading the Big West in batting average (.615), slugging percentage (1.077), RBI (8) and hits (8).
The sophomore transfer from the University of Washington batted 8-for-13 at the Easton Tournament to go along with six runs scored, two home runs and eight RBI, powering CSF to three run-rule victories. Taukeiaho hit safely in all five games, while recording multiple hits against Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Loyola Marymount.
In Cal State Fullerton's victory over second-ranked Oklahoma, Taukeiaho belted a two-run home run to lead the Titans over the Sooners, which turned out to be all the offense CSF needed in a 3-1 duel. Against Pittsburgh, Taukeiaho batted 2-for-3 including a three-run home run that was deposited down the left field line, rallying the Titans from a 4-0 deficit to a come from behind 7-4 victory.
Sophomore Antunez (2-0) led the Titans to their first win over a top-five opponent since the 2008 season when CSF defeated the then No. 2 Bruins of UCLA 9-1. Antunez tossed five innings, yielding three hits and one run while striking out eight Sooners, handing Oklahoma its first loss of the season. The Garden Grove, Calif. native, boasted a 2.80 ERA through the first week of the season, pitching 10 innings over that span and fanning 12 batters.
The right-hander was sharp early for the Titans as she was the winning pitcher in the season-opener against Loyola Marymount, pitching five stellar innings while scattering only one hit and striking out two Lions. Antunez, the defending 2013 Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, also chipped in a single run scored, double, and a walk at the plate as CSF run-ruled LMU 9-0 to begin the season on Friday.
Fullerton will return to action on Wednesday, against the University of San Diego at Anderson Family in Fullerton, Calif. First pitch against the Toreros is set for 6 p.m. After taking on USD, the Titans will travel down south to San Diego, Calif., to take on San Diego State, Saint Mary's, Texas State, South Dakota, and California in the 24th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Tournament (Thursday-Saturday).