Game 1 Box Score (.pdf) | Game 2 Box Score (.pdf)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Alexis Gonzalez belted a pair of home runs – one in each game – to help Cal State Fullerton to a sweep on the final day of the Santa Clara Bronco Classic. In the first game, the Titans routed Seattle 9-0 in five innings before rolling by Santa Clara 10-0 in the nightcap.
With the pair of wins, Cal State Fullerton improves to 8-2 on the year, while Seattle falls to 3-7 and Santa Clara drops to 2-7.
Game 1: Cal State Fullerton 9, Seattle 0 (5 innings)
Cal State Fullerton came out swinging as the Titans scored five runs in the top of the first highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Alexis Gonzalez.
The Titans got things going with a leadoff walk and took advantage of an error and a sacrifice fly to get the first run across. A double by Sarah Moore scored Missy Taukeiaho, who reached on an error, to make it a two-run game.
A subsequent error allowed Melissa Sechrest to reach base before she stole second and scored on an RBI-single by Sydney Colenzo.
Capping the scoring in the first was Gonzalez's homer to leftfield, which drove in Colenzo.
Fullerton starter Cerissa Rivera did a solid job in the circle as she pitched 2.0 innings and allowed just one hit without allowing a run and fanning four.
Rivera kept the Redhawks off the board and gained a very comfortable lead in the second after the Titans added three more runs on three singles and two errors.
Nyah Rodman (1-0) came on in relief of Rivera to start the third and shutdown the Redhawks for the next two innings before collecting her first win of the year.
Christina Washington did her job in the circle as she closed out the game and preserved the victory by a score of 9-0 after the Titans added another run in the fourth to run-rule Seattle in five innings.
Seattle's Andie Larkins (3-3) suffered the loss after pitching 3.2 innings of work and allowing all nine runs (only one of which was earned) on nine hits. She walked three and struck out one in the game. Larkins was relieved by Alyssa Reuble who pitched 1.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit and striking out one.
Moore was the only player in the game to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Gonzalez also drove in two runs as she was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 10, Santa Clara 0
Cal State Fullerton's offense continued its hot hitting as the Titans scored two runs in the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead over Santa Clara.
Vandiver led off the game with an infield single and made her way to second base on a throwing error. She moved around the bases along with Taukeiaho, who drew a base on balls, and the pair eventually scored on a single to leftfield by Moore.
In the second inning, the Titans tacked on two more runs. Gonzalez led off the frame with a single down the leftfield line and Williams, who pinch ran, plated the third run of the game on a single through the left side off the bat of Vandiver.
Vandiver scored her second run of the game – the fourth for Cal State Fullerton – after an RBI-single by Rodriguez.
Golden (5-0) was solid in her fifth outing of the year as she went 5.0 innings without allowing a run and giving up just four hits. She fanned three and walked two.
Jasmine Antunez came on in relief of Golden and pitched 1.0 innings in which she allowed just one walk.
The Titans took a 4-0 lead into the seventh and exploded for six runs in the frame after sending 11 batters to the plate. Rodriguez led off the inning with an infield single and stole second before scoring on a double from Moore. Rodas pinch ran for Moore and scored the sixth run of the game after a single and a fielder's choice.
With runners on second and third, Gonzalez sent her second homer of the day over the leftfield fence to make it a 9-0 game.
Cal State Fullerton was not done scoring yet. Brannan doubled to right-centerfield and came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Vandiver.
After taking a 10-0 lead, Fullerton sent Desiree Ybarra to the circle to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh. She retired the side to secure the win.
Santa Clara's McCall James (0-3) suffered the loss after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, while walking two and striking out one.
Gonzalez finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Vandiver was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI and Moore was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Cal State Fullerton will be back in action next weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic when the Titans go up against Utah, Georgia, Oklahoma State, BYU and New Mexico State from Thursday, Feb. 25 – Sat., Feb. 27.