FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton (11-6) collected their sixth walk-off win of the season with an 11-3 run-rule victory over UConn on Friday night.
Dani Martinez got the start against the Huskies and was phenomenal throwing her second complete game shutout of her young career. Her final line was four innings, only one hit allowed, zero runs, and seven strikeouts. She retired the final 10 UConn hitters she faced. Janelle Rodriguez would come in and struggle out of the pen giving three runs on five hits in just two-third of an inning. Sophie Frost would record the final defensive out for the Titans with a strikeout.
Kelsie Whitmore had the best game of her career going 2-2 with her first career home run and the game-winning hit in the bottom of the fifth driving in four RBI in the victory. Deshea Hill crushed her first career grand slam finishing the game 1-2 with a run scored and four RBI. Ari Williams belted her team-leading fifth homer of the year finishing the game 1-2 with a pair of runs scored and three RBI.
Irie Siofele had a multi-hit performance going 2-2 with a pair of singles. Alexa Neil (1-2, two runs) and Janelle Rodriguez (1-2) were the only other Titans with hits in the ballgame.
The Titans wasted no time getting on the board as Neil drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first and came in to score on Williams' two-run home run.
Fullerton would come back to the plate in the second and load the bases for Williams who walked on four pitches to bring in the game's third run of the game. Hill would follow that up with her second home run of the season and her first career grand slam.
The third inning would give the Titans their third home run of the game as Whitmore would launch her first career home, a three-run shot to deep left.
The Huskies would not be shut out in this one though, as back-to-back singles off Rodriguez would put a pair on followed by a three-run home run to right field cutting the Titans' to 10-3.
Needing just one run for the run-rule walk-off, Fullerton got a leadoff walk from Daisy Munoz. She would move up to second on a sac bunt and come in to score on Whitmore's game-winning RBI single.
This marks the second rule-rule victory and walk-off for the Titans this season. Overall, it is the sixth time they have walked it off for the victory.
Cal State Fullerton will look to stay hot tomorrow if rain permits. They are scheduled to face the Roadrunners of UTSA at 7:30 p.m.
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