FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team rallied to erase a three-run deficit to down visiting Cal Poly, 5-4, in game one of the series to snap a four-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Family Field. Due to inclement weather prior to the start of game two, a doubleheader has been scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Both games will be featured on ESPN3.
Any ticket purchased to today's (April 25) games will be honored for admission to tomorrow's (April 26) doubleheader. All tickets originally purchased for tomorrow will be valid for both games of the day.
In primarily a reserve role for the Titans (28-20, 6-7 Big West), Fullerton, Calif. native Gabrielle Rodas once again had a crucial at-bat late in a game to help capture the first game of the series over the Mustangs (22-25, 5-8 Big West).
With already two lead changes and a 5-5 tie heading to the bottom of the sixth, Rodas was inserted as a pinch hitter to leadoff the frame. After fouling off several pitches the right-hander went opposite field and roped a single through the right-side. Rodas quickly moved to second on a passed ball from Cal Poly catcher Susanne Morris. CSF freshman Shianne Brannan executed a bunt to send Rodas to third base. Another pitch from Mustangs' hurler Sierra Hyland (17-16) went wide for a wild pitch to score the charging Rodas for the go-ahead run.
Cal State Fullerton reliever Cerissa Rivera (1-1) tossed two innings of relief to tally the first win of her Titan career after holding Cal Poly to just one hit. The right-hander from Westminster, Calif. stranded two runners in the seventh to shut the door on the Mustangs.
Desiree Ybarra returned to the pitching staff after missing the past 14 games and was given the nod to start for the Titans, turning in five innings of work and struck out five. The left-hander surrendered four runs on nine hits and issued one walk.
After the Mustangs got on the board first with an RBI single from Emily Ceccacci in the second inning, the Titans responded in the third. CSF's Kylie Padilla drew a one-out walk which was later followed by a single up the box from Samantha Vandiver. Sophomore Delynn Rippy roped an infield single that deflected off the third baseman's glove to load the bases. University of Arizona transfer Courtney Rodriguez followed with a ground out to bring home pinch runner Brooke Clemetson to notch the game up at 1-1.
Cal Poly's offense hung three runs on four hits in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, but the Titans answered back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally highlighted by an RBI single from Rodriguez and a two-run double by Mizzou transfer Sarah Moore to deadlock the game once again at 4-4 before Fullerton's heroics late in the contest.
Rodriguez (1-for-3) and Moore (1-for-2) each drove in two RBIs, while Rodas (1-for-1) and Paige Kisling (1-for-1) provided a base-hit off the bench to eventually score a run apiece, respectively.
Hyland took the loss after tossing the full six innings, yielding five runs (four earned) on seven hits. The right-hander struggled a bit with her control issuing five walks, but fanned five on the afternoon.
Game Notes: Rodas provided another pivotal at-bat back on Feb. 7 with a game-winning base on balls against then-No. 21 Notre Dame to walk-off the Irish, 8-7…Fullerton now holds a 38-29 series record over the Mustangs, while being 12-6 on Saturday's and 17-8 at home…Vandiver (2-for-3) captured her 16th multi-hit game of the season and extended her hitting-streak to a team-high five games...Any ticket purchased to today's (April 25) games will be honored for admission to tomorrow's (April 26) doubleheader. All tickets originally purchased for tomorrow will be valid for both games of the day.