LAS VEGAS – The No. 25 Cal State Fullerton (7-3) softball team suffered its first shutout loss of the season to Utah Valley (5-5), 9-0, in six innings in the finale of the Wilson/Demarini Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park on Sunday afternoon.
The decisive opening frame began with a leadoff single by Utah Valley's Haley Harrison off Fullerton starter Christina Washington (4-1). Consecutive walks to Brianna Gatlin and Jaylen Watson loaded the bases. Brittney Vansway launched a grand slam to straight away center, carding her third homer of the season and placing the Titans in a 4-0 hole that UVU never surrendered.
The Wolverines tacked on a two-run home run by Gatlin in the second and another three-run round-tripper off the bat of Taleigh Williams to tally nine runs and hand Fullerton its first run rule loss of the season.
Vansway (1-for-2) scored once, and drew one walk to go along with her game-high four RBIs. The 1-2 punch at the top of the order in Harrison (3-for-4, two runs) and Gatlin (1-for-2, two runs, two RBIs, two walks) was highly effective against the CSF pitching staff.
Washington suffered her first loss after the poorest outing on the season, chased after one and 2/3 innings while surrendering six earned runs on four hits. Left-hander Desiree Ybarra had slightly more success against the Wolverines, tossing the remaining four and 1/3 innings, yielding two earned runs while striking out three.
Cal State Fullerton's offense was quieted by Bailey Moore (3-4), who registered a complete game shutout as the Titans' bats could only muster up four hits.
The Titans will stay on the road and travel to Palm Springs, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Classic beginning on Thursday as Cal State Fullerton faces a pair of ranked teams in No. 18 Missouri (5:30 p.m.) and No. 16 LSU (8:30 p.m.) to open the four-day tournament.
Game Notes: With a single on her first at bat, CSF's Missy Taukeiaho extended her hitting streak to eight games, while Courtney Rodriguez (0-for-3) had her team-high nine game hitting streak snapped…Titan catcher Kylie Padilla (2-for-3) recorded her first multi-hit game of the season…Utah Valley is now 1-0 in the all-time series with Cal State Fullerton after this afternoon's first meeting between the two squads…The Titans have yet to win on Sunday (0-2).
