FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans softball had two different walk-offs to take the series over UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Family Field.
After dropping the first game last night 15-5, the Titans came out ready to play for the doubleheader on Saturday. The Titans took Game One 8–0 and walked it off in the fifth inning via run rule fashion. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Titans won it late in the 8th inning on a walk off bomb by Deshea Hill to take the game 5-4 and the series, 2-1.
The Titans move to 22-13 overall and 7-2 in Big West Conference Play. The Titans are tied for 1st place with Hawai'i after they took the series at UC San Diego, 2-1. Long Beach State can make it a triumvirate at the top if they win their game against CSUN tomorrow.
Game 1, Cal State Fullerton 8, UC Riverside 0
After the bats were quiet last night despite two home runs, the bats came out to play in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Saturday. The Titans pounded out 11 hits and outhit UCR 11-to-2 for the game.
Raci Miranda pitched an extremely efficient 5 inning complete game. She allowed just two hits, one walk, and struck out three in just 54 pitches.
Three Titan hitters had multi-hit games in the 1st game. Jessi Alcala was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and 1 run. Megan Delgadillo was 3-for-3 with two runs. Peyton Toto was 2-for-3 with 1 run and 2 RBIs.
The Titans scored their first run in the second after Jessi Alcala singled in Jasmyn Vigilante.
B2 | Start us off @jjeess13 !#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/eWlOKzCWmV
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
They added another run in the third after Daisy Munoz singled in Megan Delgadillo.
B3 | Solid piece of hitting @daisymunozz #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/OmcmfMPcV6
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
In the fifth inning, the Titans tagged on six runs to take the game in walk-off fashion. With two outs in the inning, the Titans had runners on the corners before proceeding to score six runs.
Peyton Toto doubled down the LF line to bring in two runs.
Cash us out @peytontoto1 ! ����#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Ed3kQk8ov9
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
Jessi Alcala followed her up with her third hit of the game on a single to center field to score two more.
B5 | @jjeess13 picks up hit # 3⃣ of the game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/EVDA3Gw1xx
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
Alexa Neil doubled to put runners on 3rd and 2nd. Kika Ramirez pinch hit and smacked a ball to deep right center that the right fielder misplayed which scored Alexa Neil and Jessi Alcala to end the game via run rule.
B5 | WALK US OFF @kika__elizabeth !#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/7iiOtPlq6L
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
Game 2, Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Riverside 4 (8 Innings)
The Titans won Game 2 in a different walk-off fashion as Deshea Hill hit a home run in the 8th inning to secure the win and series for the Titans.
UC Riverside led the game off strong with two runs off three hits. However, with the Titans having their mettle tested, theyresponded positively with 3 runs of their own in the first inning.
Megan Delgadillo led the game off with a base hit and scored on a Hannah Becerra double.
B1 | Quick response by @hhannahh20 to halve the UCR lead#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ThwH8lobsx
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
Daisy Munoz followed Becerra up with a double to left center to score one.
B1 | We're tied right back in this one �� @daisymunozz #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/4b8RcSXScc
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
Peyton Toto doubled to score Munoz to give the Titans a 3-2 lead after the first inning.
B1 | See the ball, hit the ball @peytontoto1 #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/s3IYK5I3Qg
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 2, 2022
The Titans added another run in the 3rd inning. Hannah Becerra led the inning off with a single. She stole second and advanced to 3B with two outs on a throwing error by the catcher. It ended up being a great call from the coaching staff as Peyton Toto was able to score Becerra on a single to CF.
B3 | Some great baserunning by Becerra leads to a great opportunity for @peytontoto1 to bring in another run#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/xPJCAZCIAW
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 3, 2022
UC Riverside tied the game in the 4th inning after scoring two runs by taking advantage of two errors and a walk. The Titans had a great chance to respond in the bottom half of the inning after loading the bases with one out for Becerra and Munoz. However, neither could cash in any of the runners on base.
UC Riverside had a huge opportunity to take the lead in the 5th after a lead-off double and base hit put runners on the corners. However, Myka Sutherlin entered in relief and proceeded to strike out the side to end the threat from the Highlanders in the fifth.
M5 | UCR gets runners on 3rd and 2nd with no outs and @meeksmyka comes in and strikes out the side! LFG Myka! ����#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/uFg0GnI2tH
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 3, 2022
After that, neither side could get anything going until finally in the bottom of the eighth. Deshea Hill had a hitters count after starting with a 3-0 advantage and smoked the 3-1 pitch over the CF fence to win the game for the Titans in the 8th inning.
BALL GAME. WALK US OFF @hill_deshea #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ZylBqzg9ur
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 3, 2022
After throwing just 54 pitches in the first game, Raci Miranda started the second game as well for the Titans. She allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, one walk, and struck out five. Myka Sutherlin was stellar in relief and allowed just one batter to reach via an intentional walk and struck out 5 in 4 innings of work.
The Titans have won their third straight series to start Big West Play and head to CSUN on Friday and Saturday for their next series.
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).