FULLERTON, Calif. - Playing in front of a national audience for the first time all season, the Titans dropped a close one at home against UC San Diego 4-3 at home on Friday evening.
The Titans outhit the Tritons 7-to-3 but couldn't come up with timely hits when they needed it. They were 2-for-14 with runners on base and 1-for-8 with a runner in scoring position. The Titans left 6 runners on base.
Myka Sutherlin went the distance in the loss allowing 4 runs on 3 hits, 3 hit batters, 2 walks, and struck out 5. Jada Cecil picked up the win allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and striking out 7. Kaia Simpson picked up the save after striking out the side in the final inning.
Megan Delgadillo led the offense by going a perfect 4-for-4 with four stolen bases in the game. Delgadillo is 8-for-8 in her last two games and 8 stolen bases in her last three games. Deshea Hill and Peyton Toto both hit home runs.
The Titans struck first after Deshea Hill had a 2 run bomb over LF in the first inning to put the Titans a head 2-0.
However, the lead would be short lived as the Tritons responded with a 3-run homer in the next inning.
The Tritons added what turned out to be the winning run in the 4th inning. After a leadoff walk and sac bunt put a runner on second with one out. Sutherlin struck out Clarissa Reynoso for what should've been the second out however, she reached the bases on a dropped third strike wild pitch. It would come back to haunt the Titans as with two outs in the inning, Kelley Renner flared one to shallow right field to score a run.
Peyton Toto got one run back for the Titans after hitting her third home run of the season over the left center fence.
B4 | Looks like the physics lessons are paying off. @peytontoto1 @TraciStatler #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ApvoysDrfV
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 16, 2022
The Titans would put a runner in scoring position in the final three frames but couldn't push across the tying run.
The Titans were even able to escape a jam in the 6th and 7th inning after the Tritons were threatening with runners in scoring position. In the sixth inning, a fielding error in RF that put a runner on third was wiped out on a great play by Alexa Neal to get the runner at home plate.
T6 | Practice makes perfect @alexaneil42 ��@jjeess13#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/EtPdNOjoFt
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 16, 2022
The Tritons loaded the bases in the 7th inning, but a bang bang play by Alexa Neil at second base ended the final frame from the Tritons.
However, the Titans could only get the tying run to third base in the 7th inning.
The Titans will need to win the doubleheader against UC San Diego on Saturday to take the series.
First pitch from Game One is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
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