PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico -- The Cal State Fullerton softball team collected victories two and three on Friday with wins over Mississippi State (6-1) and Florida Gulf Coast (4-1) at Nancie Almaraz Stadium on day two of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
The Titans benefited mightily from starters Kelsey Kessler (1-1) and Trisha Parks (2-2) who both threw at least six scoreless innings on Friday. The Fullerton offense also provided the pitching staff with some solid run support as Emily Randall and Shianne Brannan finished the afternoon with a combined four RBIs from the bottom of the order.
With the two wins, the Titans move to 3-4 on the season and are currently riding a win streak heading into the conclusion of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. Fullerton will battle Texas Tech and Fresno State tomorrow morning at 7/9:45 a.m. PT.
Game One (vs. Mississippi State)
After a tough loss to Texas Tech yesterday, the Titans needed a strong pitching performance from senior Kesley Kessler and she would deliver one.
The Blue Springs, Mo., native pitched her first complete game of the season and it was a good one as she finished with three strikeouts, two walks and an unearned run in seven innings of work. Kessler now holds a team-leading 1.37 ERA among starters after the complete game effort.
Mississippi State (4-3) got on the board first in the second inning by laying down a bunt single that led to an errant throw from Fullerton third baseman Randall, which plated the runner from third and gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead early.
However, the Titan offense went on to explode in the fifth inning as they put a five spot on the scoreboard with some scrappy plays. Lexi Gonzalez lined a one-out double to right to start the rally, followed by a Sydney Colenzo walk and Randall did the rest. The true freshman singled to center, knocking in pinch runner Brooke Clemetson from second and advancing Colenzo to third to tie the game at one.
Brannan gave the Titans the lead right after as she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give Fullerton a 2-1 edge in the fourth.
With two outs, Rippy forced a tough play upon Mississippi State second basemen Emily Heimberger as the Bulldog decided to go for the force at second but as she dove for second, the ball popped out of her glove and into center field, which cleared the bases for the Titans, extending their lead to 5-1.
Parks added some insurance to the already four-run lead for Fullerton by driving in Rippy with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to push the lead to 6-1.
Kessler found herself in a bit of trouble in the seventh by surrendering a leadoff double, followed by a single but Colenzo made a terrific heads-up play. The second basemen got the force at second from Randall and threw out Mississippi State's Kat Moore at home for a double play.
Soon after, Kessler finished off her complete game by striking out Morgan Bell and leading the Titans to a 6-1 victory over the Bulldogs.
Overall, Fullerton had six hits on six runs against Mississippi State while committing one error. Rippy also extended her hitting streak to six with two hits in the game as well.
Game Two (vs. FGCU)
Now back on the winning side, the Titans had some momentum going into the final game of the doubleheader vs. Florida Gulf Coast and it showed on both sides of the ball.
The Titans offense showed their patience at the plate in the opening frame by drawing three walks among the first four hitters, loading the bases for Zoe Richard. The freshman put the ball in play and got a productive out as she got an RBI on the fielder's choice, giving the Titans a 1-0 edge.
Two walks followed Richard's RBI and Randall's walk brought Parks home, which put Fullerton up 2-0 after one.
Parks kept the momentum going in the circle by pitching six scoreless innings, giving up two hits, striking out five and walking only two.
In the fourth, Brannan laid down a bunt for a squeeze play and it worked to perfection as Randall beat the tag at home and extended the Titans lead to 3-0.
Kelsie Whitmore also collected her first collegiate RBI in the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field, knocking-in Arianna Burns from third and putting Fullerton up 4-0 over the Eagles.
To start the seventh, Sydney Golden took the circle for the Titans but couldn't find a rhythm in the final inning as she surrendered three singles and a run, cutting the lead to 4-1.
Freshman Sophie Frost relieved Golden with two runners on and it didn't faze her one bit as she induced a groundout to second and punched out Lulu Newmark to give Fullerton a 4-1 victory and collect her first collegiate save.
Overall, the Titans scored four runs on five hits and only committed one error against the Eagles. Fullerton centerfielder Burns also collected her first multi-hit game as a Titan.
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