FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans women's softball team split their first two home games of the 2023 season on Saturday at Day 3 of the Easton Classic. They lost a close one to Cal 4-3 in their first game of the day before winning in walk off fashion over the University of San Diego, 3-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Cal State Fullerton 4, Cal 3
The Titans led for the first five innings of the game against Cal but the Golden Bears rallied late and held onto a 4-3 win over Cal State Fullerton in their 2023 home opener.
Haley Rainey suffered another tough loss after going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Myka Sutherlin gave up one unearned run in 1.1 innings of work and allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out one.
The Titans outhit Cal 8-to-6 for the game but Cal got the big hit when it mattered on a three run blast that gave them the lead over the Titans. Megan Delgadillo led the offense by going 2-for-4 with one run. Daisy Munoz had a hit and a RBI.
The Titans took the lead in the first inning after Delgadillo led the inning off with an infield hit and stole second. Daisy Munoz singled her in to give the Titans an early 1-0 lead.
END 1 | @daisymunozz drives in the first run of the game and her first RBI of the season#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/USiqPXfYJ7
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 11, 2023
The Titans had a great opportunity to add some insurance runs in the third inning and fourth inning. Delgadillo led the third inning off with a base hit and Becerra reached on a bunt and throwing error by the pitcher. However, the Titans would leave runners stranded in scoring position with no outs. The Titans loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning after three consecutive base hits from Evelyn Sablan, Alexa Neil, and Antuanett Dean. However, the Titans would leave the bases loaded to end the inning.
Cal took the lead in the 6th inning after Sophie Medellin hit a pinch hit three run home run for Cal with two outs in the inning. Cal got another insurance run in the 7th inning that proved to be the difference in the game. The Golden Bears were able to cash in on an error by the Titans defense to score an unearned run on a sac fly.
The Titans made things interesting in the seventh inning by scoring two runs. The Titans loaded the bases with one out after a Becerra walk, Peyton Toto single, and Munoz reached on a fielding error.
Jessi Alcala scored a run on a fielder's choice and Kika Ramirez also scored a run on a fielding error by the third baseman. However, Sablan would strike out to end the game for the Titans and they left their 9th and 10th runners on base to end the game.
Cal State Fullerton 3, University of San Diego 2
The Titans needed a walk-off to defeat the University of San Diego 3-2 in their second game of the day.
The Titans used the same two pitchers as the first game except in reverse order. Myka Sutherlin drew the start and went 5.1 innings and allowed 1 run on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Haley Rainey picked up her first career win as a Titan after going the final 1.2 frames and allowing one unearned run and striking out two.
The Titans took an early lead after Jessi Alcala smacked her first home of the season over the LF fence.
B2 | @jjeess13 GOT ALL OF THAT ONE!!! ����#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ahmnhaqqJm
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 11, 2023
USD would tie the game up in the top of the fifth inning. The Titans responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning to regain the narrow advantage. Antuanett Dean led the inning off with a triple to left center. Delgadillo doubled down the LF line to score Dean and restore the 2-1 lead.
B5 | @AntuanettD leads the fifth off with a triple and @megdelgadillo37 brings her in! The Titans lead 2-1#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/BcFO7SF8xR
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 12, 2023
USD threatened in the sixth by loading the bases with two outs, however Rainey who entered in relief of SUtherlin was able to get the final two outs in the inning.
Emanuelli reached with one out and advanced to second base on a weak dribbler hit to Munoz. Munoz overthrew the ball to first and Dean had a bad throw back to first which allowed the batter to reach second on the play. They scored on a sac bunt squeeze to tie the game at 2-2. They would get two more runners in scoring position before Rainey struck out the final batter to escape the jam.
The Titans walked it off in the bottom of the seventh inning to pick up their second win of the season. Dean led the inning off with a bunt single. Delgadillo had a bunt single in the next at-bat but the third baseman threw the ball away to put runners on 3rd and 2nd. Hannah Becerra walked off the game on an infield single to shortstop that scored Dean and gave the Titans the 3-2 win.
.@hhannahh20 with the walk-off infield base hit!!! The Titans win 3-2 over San Diego!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/DMQArtEZRg
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) February 12, 2023
WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch home contests exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for Titans Athletics. 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)
