FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton opened the 2020 season with a 13-5 six-inning victory over Middle Tennessee on Thursday night thanks to a seven-run fourth inning. The Titans slugged four home runs in the contest, including two off the bat of senior Zoe Richard.
Eight Titans came up with hits on the night, led by Richard who went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI. Freshman Megan Delgadillo posted a multi-hit game in her collegiate debut, going 2-for-4 including an RBI triple that walked it off for the Titans.
Kelsie Whitmore went 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Daisy Munoz went 1-for-2 with an RB, two runs scored, and two walks as both launched their first homers of the season. Alexa Neil had a perfect night, going 1-for-1 with a two-RBI single and three walks. Irie Siofele (1-for-2, 3B, 2R, RBI, 2BB), Julia Valenzuela (1-for-4, RBI), and Deshea Hill (1-for-2, RBI) rounded out the hits for Fullerton.
In the circle, Sophie Frost got the start going 3.1 innings giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and a pair of walks. Dani Martinez came out of the bullpen in the fourth and went the final 2.2 innings allowing just one hit while striking out three.
The Titans got off to a hot start putting up four runs in the bottom of the first, three of which came on Richard's first home run of the night. Siofele scored the fourth run on an RBI single through the right side.
B1 | First AB of @ZOEEE25 senior season? Moonshot.
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 7, 2020
We lead it 3-0 early! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/oMRQVKcgdb
Middle Tennessee would plate three in the third on an RBI single and a two-run home run to make it a one-run game.
Munoz would respond in the bottom half with a solo shot the opposite way.
Leading 5-3, Fullerton would surrender a pair of runs on a two-RBI triple tying the game up and ending Frost's night in the circle. With the lead run on first, Siofele would come up with a diving catch on a sinking liner down the line to end the frame.
Mid 4 | @ISiofele with an #SCTop10 grab to end the inning and strand the runner at third! #TusksUp@FloSoftball | @NCAAsoftball pic.twitter.com/8TKcDzcgaC
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 7, 2020
The Titans rode that momentum plating seven runs in the fourth, including back-to-back homers from Whitmore and Richard.
Needing one run for the mercy rule to come in to play, Delgadillo would come to the dish in the bottom of the sixth and launch an RBI triple off the right field wall to send Fullerton home victorious.
Ballgame! @megdelgadillo37 sends one off the RF wall and it goes for an RBI walkoff triple!
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 7, 2020
Titans take the season opener, 13-5! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/MQR2NXnm6q
Cal State Fullerton will continue opening weekend as they close out day two of the Titan Classic with San Jose State at 5:30 p.m.
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