IRVINE, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team has been selected to take home the Big West Conference championship for the 2022 season by the coaches of the conference. The pre-season poll was announced by the Big West Conference on Monday.
The Titans are coming off a year where they fell just one game short of capturing their fifth straight conference title. In last year's conference action, they finished with an 21-3 record and overall, the team finished with a 38-15 record.
Among the returners for this year's team include the reigning Big West Home Run Queen and Freshman Field Player of the Year, Hannah Becerra. Becerra was also named to the NFCA All-American Third Team and the NCFA All-West Region First team. Becerra led the Big West in home runs with 14, led the team with 47 RBIs, and scored 48 runs. The Titans return Becerra's opposite on the diamond, junior first baseman and Big West All-First Team member Daisy Munoz. Munoz had her first best season as a Titan last year as she posted a slash line of .338/.397/.640 overall and tallied 11 home runs and nine doubles to go with 40 RBI. The Titans outfield will be led by Big West All-Second Team member Megan Deldadillo.
Delgadillo, a member of the All Big-West Freshman team and Second Team, had a .340 batting average with 51 hits, 5 doubles, two triples, and 14 RBIs. She was second in the Big West with 41 runs scored. She led the league in stolen bases with 31 which was the second-most in program history in a single season. And the TItans will also be led by Big West Honorable Mention Peyton Toto. Toto slashed .287/.327/.466 to go with four homers, 19 RBI and seven doubles.
2019 Big West Co-Freshman field player of the year Alexa Neil is expected to return to the starting lineup along with former two time All-Big West first team member, Deshea Hill who opted out of the 2021 season.
The Titans will welcome in a solid group of newcomers led by the freshman, Raci Miranda. Miranda will be a fixture in the Titans rotation as a true Freshman. She has pitched under Associate Head Coach Jorge Araujo with the Mexican Junior National Team.
The Titans will also welcome in a couple transfers that will make an immediate impact on the roster. Myka Sutherlin from the University of the Pacific. Sutherlin started 12 games for the Tigers and went 6-2 from the circle with a 1.88 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched.
Antuanett Dean from New Mexico State will look to add more speed in the outfield and on the basepath. Dean batted .286 last season for the Aggies and scored 15 runs and had 10 stolen bases.
Fullerton was picked to finish first with 77 points (5 first place votes) over last season's conference champions Long Beach State who had 74 points (4 first place votes). UC Davis was picked to finish third with 55 points. Hawai'i and UC San Diego were tied for fourth with 49 points. Cal Poly was picked to finish sixth with 42 points (1 first place vote). UC Santa Barbara 7th with 41 points. CSUN was picked to finish 8th with 29 points. UC Riverside was 9th with 25 points. After opting out of last season, Cal State Bakersfield was picked to finish 10th with 9 points.
Cal State Fullerton begins their road to regain the conference title on Friday, February 11th against Ole Miss and Dixie State to open up the Easton Invitational.
Coaches Poll Results
1. Cal State Fullerton (5) - 77
2. Long Beach State (4) - 74
3. UC Davis - 55
4. Hawaii - 49
4. UC San Diego - 49
6. Cal Poly (1) - 42
7. UC Santa Barbara - 41
8. CSUN - 29
9. UC Riverside - 25
10. Cal State Bakersfield - 9
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch every home softball game exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for all games at Anderson Family Field. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.
FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Twitter (fullerton_sb) and Instagram accounts (fullerton_sb).