FULLERTON, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team exploded for a six-run fourth inning to erase a three-run deficit and salvage the final game of the series with Cal State Fullerton, 9-6, at Anderson Family Field on Sunday afternoon.
UCD struck for four home runs to spoil Fullerton's Senior Day, the highest number of round-trippers by a Titans' opponent all season.
Trailing 3-2 entering the fourth frame, the Aggies produced only three hits in the inning, but two of which were crucial long balls.
Lauryn Saunders led off the inning with a solo homer, later followed by a three-run shot via Amy Nunez, propelling UC Davis into an 8-3 lead that was never overtaken.
Saunders batted 2-for-4 with two home runs, two RBIs while scoring twice. Nunez chipped in a 2-for-3 effort, driving in three and scoring one.
Andrea Reynolds (4-6) chalked up the win in relief for UC Davis, tossing five innings of five-hit ball, allowing just three runs as the Aggies offense went on a tear in support of her.
The Titans attempted a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, using Missy Taukeiaho's three-run homer to cut the deficit to 8-6. Taukeiaho batted a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored and four RBIs. The transfer from the University of Washington also drew an intentional walk, her team-high 39th base on balls of the season.
Falling behind both contests in a pair of wins in the doubleheader yesterday, the Titans were the first team to get on the board in the final game of the series. Fullerton used an RBI single by Samantha Galarza in the first inning while Taukeiaho lined an RBI double in the second frame to eventually grasp a 3-0 lead heading into the third, but was quickly erased by the UC Davis barrage of runs in the following frames.
Freshman Christina Washington (11-6) suffered the loss for Fullerton, tossing three and 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs on five hits. The left-hander fanned one Aggie, but gave up two crucial long-balls to awaken the power hungry bats of UC Davis.
Sophomore Monique Wesley entered the game in relief, but was quickly chased after just 2/3 of an inning, allowing three unearned runs on one hit.
Exchanging her batter's glove for a pitcher's mitt, Head Coach Kelly Ford inserted Taukeiaho into the circle for just her fourth appearance of the season. The right-hander tossed the final three and 1/3 frames, yielding only one run on three hits.
After concluding the last home series of the year, Fullerton heads to Northridge, Calif., to finish the season with a three-game set at Cal State Northridge. The Titans and Matadors will compete in a doubleheader on Friday, May 9 at noon and 2 p.m., while wrapping up the final game of the season for both squads with a single game on Saturday, May 10 at noon.
Game Notes: Smacking another home run, Taukeiaho continues to hold the No. 2 position in the CSF all-time records for most home runs hit in a single season, trailing Stephanie Little who launched 23 round-trippers back in 1999…Fullerton continues to hold the overall lead of 19-11 over UCD following the series…With the loss on Sunday, the Titans had their four-game winning streak snapped…CSF is now 3-3 in Sunday contests…Every graduating Fullerton senior contributed in some shape or form in today's box score: Ariel Tsuchiyama and Lauren Mario chipped in a hit apiece, respectively, while Leesa Harris, Jena Rubio and Gabby Aragon each scored a run apiece, respectively.