FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans lost their Big West opening series on Friday at Anderson Family Field after dropping two games in a doubleheader to the UC Davis Aggies. The Titans lost the first game 4-2 before dropping the second game 3-1.
The Titans (13-13, 0-2) lost their first series to the Aggies since 2013 and this is the first time under Head Coach Kelly Ford's tenure that the Titans have lost a Big West Conference series opener.
Cal State Fullerton 2, UC Davis 4
The Titans lost the first game of the series after leading early in the game.
Evelyn Sablan hit her second home run of the season to put the Titans up early 1-0 in the second inning.
B2 | @evelyn_sablan GOT ALL OF THIS ONE!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/gN8UsOQr5k
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 17, 2023
The Aggies struck for three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead over the Titans and added an insurance run in the seventh inning.
The Titans got one run back in the seventh inning after a productive out by Kika Ramirez scored one, but that was all the Titans would manage in seventh.
The Titans and Aggies both had seven hits for the game. Daisy Munoz and Evelyn Sablan both had two hits in the game. However, the Titans left 10 runners on base and left a runner in scoring position in six of the seven innings played.
Kenedi Brown pitched a complete game for the Aggies and allowed two runs on seven hits, five walks, and four strikeouts. Myka Sutherlin allowed four runs on five hits, five walks, and struck out six.
Cal State Fullerton 1, UC Davis 3
UC Davis secured the series win in the second game of the evening after they beat the Titans 3-1.
The Titans were outhit 5-to-4 for the game and left 8 runners on the base for the game.
The game featured the use of the video replay system for the first time in Anderson Family Field history. However, both calls were unsuccessfully challenged because the only available camera angle was moot.
The game started off with a fantastic web gym by Alexa Neil who made a diving play at second to her left and got the runner out at first base by a step. The Aggies tried to challenge the call but the call stood.
Helluva of a play by @alexaneil42 for the second out of the game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/4Wx1ro5TUN
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 18, 2023
The Aggies would strike for two runs in the second after the Titans should've potentially been out of the inning unscathed. With a runner on second and a base hit up the middle the Titans defense nailed the go-ahead runner retreating to third base on the play but the umpires somehow ruled her safe at third. The Titans unsuccessfully challenged the call because there was only one available camera angle that proved inconclusive. The Aggies would take advantage right away with a double to right center that scored two runs.
The Titans would get one run back in the fourth inning. Daisy Munoz led the inning off with a walk and Ava Arce pinch ran for her. She advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on a base hit by Kika Ramirez. Sablan hit a sac fly to deep right field to score Arce and make it a 1-run game.
The Titans would have two great opportunities to cash in runs in the fifth and sixth inning but never found the breakthrough hit. In the fifth inning, the Titans had runners on third and second with two outs but a lineout and pop up ended the frame. In the sixth inning, the Titans had bases loaded with one out after a single and two walks. However, Deshea Hill pinch hit and grounded into a 3-2-3 double play to end the frame for the Titans.
UC Davis would add one run in the seventh inning. With runners on third and second, Raci Miranda entered to pitch in relief of Haley Rainey with one out. Miranda struck out the first batter she faced and should've escaped the inning unharmed but a slow chopper to shortstop wasn't fielded cleanly and allowed a run to score and extend the inning.
The Titans got two different base runners on in the seventh inning but the Titans couldn't score the tying run and dropped the game 3-1.
Haley Rainey took the loss after pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 3 runs (two earned) on five hits, six walks, and two strikeouts. Taylor Fitzgerald picked up the win for the Aggies.
The Titans will look to salvedge the series finale on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
NOTES: Daisy Munoz is on a 10-game hitting streak and is batting .387 (12-for-31) during that 10-game span.
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.
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