FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team matched No. 7 UCLA pitch-for-pitch through five innings on Saturday night but a pair of unearned runs in the sixth resulted in a 2-0 victory for the Bruins at Anderson Family Field.
The Titans pitching strategy worked to perfection as Trish Parks, Sydney Golden and Kelsey Kessler, pitched two or more innings against the Bruins, and didn't surrender an earned run to the talented offense.
The trio of Fullerton pitchers finished the game with a combined seven strikeouts, three walks and only gave up four hits in the contest but the four errors that resulted in two unearned runs proved to be the difference as Kessler received the loss (5-4).
Offensively, the Titans struggled to get anything going against UCLA starter Johanna Grauer who pitched a complete game shutout while striking out seven and surrendering only four hits.
After five scoreless frames, the Bruins took advantage of some costly miscues by Fullerton as a one-out single ended up turning into a runner on third with a misplay from Titans right fielder Delynn Rippy.
The error in right was followed by another miscue from Kessler as she committed an error which put runners on the corners with one out for UCLA.
Shortly after the second error, both runners came across to score on a stolen base attempt from pinch runner Imani Johnson that resulted in an errant throw into right field from Emily Randall, plating two runs for the Bruins.
Fullerton's best chance to tie the score came in the bottom half of the sixth as Mikaela Francis came into pinch-hit and singled to left field to get the rally started for the Titans.
An out later, Irieanna Siofele placed the ball right through the left side of the infield for another base hit which put runners on first and second with senior Lexi Gonzalez headed to the plate.
The Fullerton catcher got herself in a good count but couldn't make complete contact as she grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning and the threat.
Overall, the Titans drop their fourth-straight game with the loss to the No. 7 Bruins and look to snap the skid tomorrow against No. 22 Baylor at 4 p.m. PT.
CSUF finished the game with four hits, zero runs and committed four errors.
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