Cal State Fullerton 5, Purdue 3 Box Score (PDF)
Cal State Fullerton 3, Idaho State 1 Box Score (PDF)
FULLERTON, Calif. — The Cal State Fullerton softball team swept day one of the SoCal Collegiate Challenge over Purdue, 5-3, and Idaho St., 3-1, at Anderson Family Field on Friday.
With two victories on opening day, the Titans reach 2-0, while Purdue (0-2) and Idaho St. (0-3) remain winless in the young season.
Cal State Fullerton will host No. 21/22 Notre Dame (1:30 p.m.) and Northwestern St. (4:00 p.m.) in day two of the SoCal Collegiate Challenge tomorrow in Fullerton, Calif.
GAME ONE: Cal State Fullerton 5, Purdue 3
Fullerton held on for its first win of the season behind a complete game effort from sophomore Christina Washington (1-0), who tossed all seven frames yielding nine hits and three runs. The Inglewood, Calif., native carded three strikeouts, while stranding nine Boilermakers.
Out of the gates early, the Titans' offense supported Washington in the first inning with four runs off a pair of two-run doubles by sophomore Kylie Padilla and junior Sarah Moore. Fullerton capitalized on two hit by pitches and a walk in the inning to chase Purdue starter Alex Whittemore (0-1) after just 2/3 of an inning, surrendering all four earned runs on three hits.
Moore logged a 2-for-3 effort, driving in three RBIs in her Titan debut after transferring from Missouri University. Padilla, also a transfer from Oregon State University, batted 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
At the leadoff position was junior Missy Taukeiaho, chipping in a 2-for-2 performance, scoring one and drawing one walk.
The Boilermakers closed the gap in the final inning after Alyssa Koorsen drew a walk and Mary Gooding later followed with a single into right center. Ashley Burkhardt helped get Purdue on the board with a fielder's choice, scoring Koorsen. Katie Harrison struck for an RBI-double and Kaylah Hampton chipped in a RBI-single to draw to a 5-3 deficit. Washington forced Purdue's Paris Andrew to foul out to seal the victory.
GAME TWO: Cal State Fullerton 3, Idaho St. 1
Following suit in another superior pitching performance, Jasmine Antunez (1-0) tossed six innings of shutout ball, striking out three. Antunez was erratic with her control tying a career-high seven walks, but halted any Bengals' threat stranding a whopping 11 runners.
Idaho State's Sophie Slagle (0-2) quieted the Titans' bats for much of the contest, but finally faltered in the fifth inning as CSF brought across three runs. Sophomore Delynn Rippy opened the frame with a single into right field, later followed by Paige Kisling reaching base after a fielder's choice. With one out, University of Arizona transfer Courtney Rodriguez tripled down the right field line to plate Rippy and Kisling.
CSF junior Samantha Galarza tacked on an insurance run, pulling an RBI-single into left field to extend the Titans' lead to 3-0 over the Bengals.
Rippy (2-for-3) scored once while being the only Titan to log a multi-hit performance. Rodriguez (1-for-3) knocked in a pair of RBIs while scoring one run.
Fullerton had trouble shutting the door once again in the final frame, allowing three hits to load the bases with one out. CSF relief pitcher Desiree Ybarra ended the drama striking out ISU's Gabby Lopez to earn her first save of the season and cap off a day one sweep.
Game Notes: The Titans snapped a three-game losing skid to Purdue, now 6-4 in the all-time series, while advancing to 2-0 over Idaho State…CSF senior Eliza Crawford was hit by a pitch once in each game…Fullerton freshman Brooke Clemetson made her Titans' debut as a pinch runner in the bottom of the third against Purdue, quickly showing off her speed by stealing second.
