HONOLULU, HI. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans Softball team played a doubleheader against the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine on Saturday. The Titans lost their first Big West Series of the season and were also swept for the first time this season.
They haven't lost a series to the University of Hawai'i since 2015.
GAME 1, Cal State Fullerton 11, Hawaii 13
The Titans showed their heart in the game as they rallied from a nine run deficit after three innings to ultimately fall 13-11 in extras innings.
After being down 10-1 after three innings. The Titans chipped back for 2 runs, 3 runs, and 5 runs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th inning to tie the game at 11-11.
Pitching was optional today as both teams pounded out 12 hits. Jessi Alcala was 3-for-5 with 3 runs and an RBI. Peyon Toto was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Alyssa Hernandez had two hits off the bench and Antuanett Dean picked up two hits again in the game.
Myka Sutherlin started the game and went 2.1 innings allowing 6 runs on 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 hit batsmen, and struck out 3. Ellie Zellien was ineffective in relief of Sutherlin. Alexia Silvas pitched 2.1 innings and allowed 1 run on two hits. Raci Miranda suffered the loss after pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowed 3 hits on two runs and struck out 4.
The Titans struck first in this one due to the speed of Megan Delgadillo. She forced an E6 on a chopper to shortstop to get on base. She easily stole second base then came around to score on another Hawaii error after Hannah Becerra batted a ball to the shortstop. Delgadillo broke for third after the out at first and forced a bad throw at third then came around to score on it.
T1 | The Titans score early in this one as @megdelgadillo37 manufactures a run on the basepaths#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ewfA7fGUNy
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) May 8, 2022
Hawaii would strike for two in the first after loading the bases on a walk and two hit by pitches. They then got a 2-out RBI single off the wall to take a 2-1 lead.
Hawaii then added eight in the third inning to take a 10-1 lead. They got a grand slam from the No.9 hitter Mya'Liah Bethea after loading the bases. They sent 12 batters to the dish in the inning and had eight straight batters reach the plate with one out in the inning.
The Titans got two runs back in the Top of the 4th. Jessi Alcala led the inning off with her second double of the game and Daisy Munoz smacked her eighth home run of the season over the left center wall to cut it to a 10-3 game.
T4 | Not going down without a fight! DAISY SMASH 8⃣ of the season!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/8DV5Msd87w
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) May 8, 2022
The Titans would add three more runs in the Top of the 5th. Delgadillo led the inning off with a walk and stole her second base of the game. Jessi Alcala picked up her third hit of the day to put two runners on. Daisy Munoz had a sac fly on the LF warning track to bring in one run.
Peyton Toto singled up the middle and Alcala eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Alyssa Hernandez doubled down the LF line to bring in another run and cut the lead to four runs.
T5 | @alyssaah_12 rips one at her eye level to bring in another run! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/iuwwGavtd3
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) May 8, 2022
After a solo hr by Hawaii in the 5th inning. The Titans rallied for a 5-spot in the sixth inning. The Titans loaded the bases with one out after Antuanett Dean singled, Delgadillo was hit by a pitch, and Becerra worked a walk. Jessi Alcala drove one run in on a fielder's choice.
Peyton Toto had a 2-RBI double over the SS's glove to make it a 11-9 game.
T6 | @peytontoto1 smokes one over the SS into the left center gap to bring in two more runs to make it a 11-9 game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/6tue0EXyPH
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) May 8, 2022
Alyssa Hernandez had a 2-RBI single to CF on the first pitch she saw from Brinna Lopez to tie the game at 11-11.
T6 | WE'RE TIED!!!!!! KOLD BLOODED SOULJA @alyssaah_12 #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/pA8y1rlxCf
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) May 8, 2022
However the bats went cold for both sides until the Bottom of the 8th when Dallas Millwood hit a walk-off 2-run blast over the CF fence.
GAME 2, Cal State Fullerton 0, Hawaii 2
In the final game, the Cal State Fullerton Titans fell against the University of Hawaii by a score of 2-0.
It looked like it was going to be a great start for the Titans after they loaded the bases to start the game with no outs. However, two strikeouts and a foul out left the bases juiced for the Titans in the inning.
The theme of the Titans not being able to string a hit together to score runs bit them again in the final game as they left 9 runners on base and they batted 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position .
Hawaii struck first in the game after Nawai Kaupe had a solo HR in the first inning.
Hawaii added another run in the third inning after a walk and a double by Kaupe.
Raci Miranda got the start and went 3 innings. She allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 1. Myka Sutherlin pitched the final three frames and allowed 0 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, and fanned 3 batters.
It all comes down to the final weekend against Long Beach for the second year in a row. Long Beach swept Cal State Bakersfield at home this weekend and are now blank games behind the Titans. The Titans will have to win the series at home to secure the Big West Crown.
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).
