Game 1 Box Score (.pdf) | Game 2 Box Score (.pdf)
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team's offense was solid Saturday as the Titans belted three home runs and tallied a total of 13 runs to defeat UC Davis 5-1 in game one and 8-2 in the night cap.
The Titans have extended their winning streak to nine as they jump to a perfect 9-0 in Big West Conference action marking Cal State Fullerton's best league start since 2003 when it went 10-0.
In addition to their remarkable conference record, the Titans are now 34-10 overall which matches their win total from a year ago.
As the Titans continue to roll through conference play, the Aggies drop to 3-6 in Big West Conference action and 14-21 overall.
"It feels great to get a sweep over a competitive team like UC Davis," Cal State Fullerton head coach Kelly Ford said. "Every conference season is a competition. UC Davis is such a good and scrappy team; it is huge for us to get a sweep."
Game 1: Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Davis 1
Senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra earned the start against the Aggies in game one and although she gave up an early run in the first, was lights out the remainder of the game. She hurled her ninth complete game allowing one run on four hits, while walking three and fanning eight en route to picking up her 11th win of the year.
After falling 1-0, the Titans evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to rightfield by Delynn Rippy.
The Titans took their first lead of the day in the fifth as Courtney Rodriguez led off the frame with a double down the leftfield line. She advanced to third on a sac bunt and scored after pinch hitter Mikaela Francis grounded to second.
With a 2-1 lead, Cal State Fullerton's offense broke the game open in the sixth on a three-run home run off the bat of Melissa Sechrest. Sechrest's third homer of the year put the Titans up 5-1 as she drove in Alexis Gonzalez and Kylie Padilla who reached on a walk and a base hit, respectively.
Ybarra continued to dominate the Aggies as she retired the final eight batters she faced to preserve the victory.
UC Davis' starter Justine Vela was credited with a no decision after pitching 4.0 innings of work and allowing just one run before re-entering the game for the final 0.2 innings of action. Reliever Leah Munden (8-7) suffered the loss after pitching 1.1 innings of action after surrendering four runs on as many hits and walking one.
Sechrest finished the game going 1-for-2 with a walk, a homer, a run scored and three RBIs.
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 8, UC Davis 2
The nightcap saw the Titans plate the first run of the game in the bottom of the first only to have the Aggies even the score in the top of the second. However, Cal State Fullerton added two more runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run homer by Shianne Brannan that would prove to be the eventual game-winning hit. The roundtripper marked the first home run of the year for Brannan and just the second in her collegiate career.
Cal State Fullerton added three more runs in the third inning on a two-run homer by Missy Taukeiaho followed by an RBI-single from Padilla.
Despite giving up two early runs, freshman right-handed pitcher Sydney Golden (14-3) settled down and kept the Aggies off the board for the remainder of the game.
Golden found herself in a jam in the fifth as the Aggies loaded the bases with just one out, but she kept her composure and got out of the inning without allowing a run.
The Titans added another run in the fifth and a subsequent run in the sixth as they jump out in front 8-2 to give Golden a little more run support. Meanwhile, Golden did her job in the circle as she pitched 7.0 innings of work allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits, while walking two and striking out five.
UC Davis' starter Andrea Reynolds (5-10) lasted 2.0+ innings after allowing five runs on as many hits. Reliever Sara Cadona pitched the final 4.0 innings of work and surrendered three runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Taukeiaho finished the game batting 1-for-2 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs. Padilla was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs batted in, while Brannan was 1-for-3 with a home run, a run scored and two RBIs.
Cal State Fullerton will take a quick break from conference play as the Titans host San Diego on Tuesday, April 19 at 5 p.m., in a mid-week, non-conference contest. Live stats, video and audio will be available on FullertonTitans.com.
