FULLERTON, Calif. – No. 21 Notre Dame belted four home runs to power past Cal State Fullerton, 7-2, in a shortened softball game (due to travel) in the SoCal Collegiate finale at Anderson Family Field on Sunday afternoon.
The contest was deemed final at the top of the seventh frame with Notre Dame (4-1) up to bat with the bases loaded and nobody out with Cal State Fullerton (4-1) reliever Christina Washington in the circle.
After recording a total of three homers all of last season, Notre Dame's Katey Haus turned in a 3-for-3 performance with two round-trippers and another pair of RBIs. Junior Micaela Arizmendi (2-for-4) joined in on the slugfest with a two-run shot in a three-run third inning, while Casey Africano followed suit with a solo shot to open the fourth inning.
Fighting Irish reliever Rachel Nasland (1-1) tossed three and 2/3 innings of shutout ball to stifle the Titans' offense and notch her first victory of the season. Notre Dame starter Katie Beriont was given an early 4-0 lead, but gave way to Nasland after yielding two runs on four hits in two and 1/3 innings.
Fullerton produced only five hits on the offensive end, but junior Missy Taukeiaho (2-for-3) continued to torch opposing pitching with her third consecutive game with a lead off hit, and second straight with at least one long ball after launching a two-run jack in the bottom of the third inning.
Jasmine Antunez (1-1) took the loss for the Titans, laboring through two and 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits. After picking up two victories in yesterday's sweep over Notre Dame and Northwestern State, reliever Desiree Ybarra was ineffective lasting just one and 1/3 innings after the Fighting Irish tallied three runs on five hits. Washington was the third pitcher to enter the game, posting two shut out frames before the game was called final in the top of the seventh.
The Titans will now travel to Las Vegas for the UNLV Desert Classic on Friday as Cal State Fullerton faces Boise State (3:45 p.m.) and Nevada (6:00 p.m.) to open the three-day tournament.
Game Notes: After splitting with the Fighting Irish following a 8-7 victory yesterday, the Titans own a 9-7 all-time mark…Taukieaho has now homered in consecutive games, while leading off the game with a hit in three straight…University of Arizona transfer Courtney Rodriguez scooted around for her CSF team-high second triple of the season…Titan freshman Brooke Clemetson swiped her second stolen base of 2015 in the bottom of the fourth inning...today's promotion for fans was Autograph Day at Anderson Family Field.
