FULLERTON, Calif. - The Titans split their third day at the Judi Garman Classic. The Titans lost in 11 innings in a marathon game against the University of Minnesota before walking off the University of Central Florida in the second game of the night.
Cal State Fullerton 4, Minnesota 7 (11 Innings)
The Titans dropped their first game of the day on Saturday after falling 7-4 to Minnesota in 11 innings.
It took four extra innings with the international tie-breaker rule in effect for either side to finally pull ahead for good in the game. Kayla Chavez hit a 3-run bomb in the Top of the 11th inning to finally give the Gophers an advantage the Titans couldn't match.
Myka Sutherlin was herculean on the mound, tossing 10.1 innings in a 191 pitch effort. Sutherlin allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits, three walks,and struck out eleven. Autumn Pease tossed a complete game 11 inning effort for the Gophers in 130 pitches.
The Titans took an early lead in the first inning after Megan Delgadillo led the inning off with a walk and stole second. Alexa Neil had an infield single that ricocheted off the defender and Delgadillo came around to score to make it a 1-0 game.
END 1 | The Titans strike for one run early in the game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/mbypsakhr6
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
Neither side would score again until the sixth inning. The Gophers led the inning off with back-to-back walks and eventually got both runners to scoring position with two outs in the inning on a wild pitch. Chavez had an RBI single that plated two runs to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.
The Titans had an instant response in the bottom half of the inning. Alexa Neil was hit by a pitch to give the Titans a runner. Daisy Munoz had a shallow ball to the outfield drop for a single that the Minnesota center fielder nearly caught. Alexa Neil scored on the play after an error on the throw.
END 6 | The Titans tie the game up in the bottom half of the inning after a hit and a wild throw by the Gophers defense! We're tied 2-2!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/iij6XcCQaS
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
The Titans and Gophers would exchange scores in the eighth and ninth inning. In the ninth, Jessi Alcala tripled to right center with one out to score Hannah Becerra. However, the Titans would strand Alcala to end the inning.
B9 | @jessialcala31 ties this game 4-4 with an RBI triple!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/pIuYUCtElf
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
Sutherlin shut down the Gophers in the 10th inning on three strikeouts and in the bottom of the 10th, the Titans sac bunted Alexia Lopez over to third. However, the Titans would again strand the runner at third.
The Gophers had two runners on base to start the 11th inning before Chavez hit a three run homer over the left field fence to give the Gophers an edge the Titans couldn't quite overcome.
Cal State Fullerton 8, UCF 6
The Titans won the second game of the evening against the University of Central Florida Knights, 8-6 after another late night walk-off victory in back-to-back nights at the Judi Garman Classic.
After taking a lead into the seventh inning and losing it and falling behind 6-5 in the top half of the inning. The Titans would send their 3, 4, 5 batters to the dish to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Hannah Becerra walked to start the inning, Daisy Munoz had a base hit off a hard line drive to first base. Jessi Alcala sent everyone home with a 3-run blast over the left field fence to give the Titans the walk-off victory.
BALLGAME! @jessialcala31 3-RUN HOME RUN WALKOFF. THE TITANS WIN 8-6!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/NyL9GDOxhh
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
Jessi Alcala and Kika Ramirez each had 3 RBI's for the game to lead the offense. Raci Miranda allowed four runs in 4.1 innings while Haley Rainey allowed 2 runs in 2 innings of work. Alexia Silvas picked up the win by allowing just one hit and pitching the final 0.2 innings.
The Knights struck first in the first inning to take an early 1- 0 after two hits in the inning.
The Titans tied the game up in the second inning after two walks by Alcala and Kika Ramirez to start the inning. Sablan sac bunted them over and Bailey Wallace singled in a run to tie the game at 1-1.
END 2 | @baileywalll ties the game up with a knock up the middle!
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
⚔️-1
��-1#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/7oaItecj58
The Titans took a 4-1 lead in the third inning. The Titans loaded the bases after singles by Alexa Neil and Jessi Alcala and a walk by Hannah Becerra. Kika Ramirez smoked a ball to center field to plate two runs.
B3 | The Titans take the lead after @kika__elizabeth rips one to center with bases loaded to score two runs! The Titans lead 3-1#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/4Sdqd1pDO0
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
Evelyn Sablan kept the rally going with an infield base hit up the middle that scored a run.
B3 | @evelyn_sablan keeps the inning alive to bring in one more run to give the Titans a 4-1 lead!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/1KNqcSgZDa
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
However, the Knights would have a 3-run inning on their own in the fifth inning. The Knights scored three runs on three hits in the inning to tie the game at 4-4.
The Titans would retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Becerra led the inning off with a walk and Daisy Munoz sac bunted her over but the pitcher threw the ball into the outfield that allowed Becerra and Munoz to go into scoring position. Kika Ramirez picked up third RBI of the night on a sac fly to deep right to give the Titans the 5-4 lead.
However the Knights would take the lead in the top of the seventh after four hits in the inning. The Knights led 6-5 heading into bottom of the seventh, before the Titans saw some late night magic from the bat of Jessi Alcala.
Some more late night magic at the Judi Garman! @jessialcala31
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 5, 2023
�� @AllBonzo #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/7EyUubxwgG
The Titans will take on No. 2 UCLA in the final game of the Judi Garman Classic on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
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