FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton Titans responded in a big way after Friday night's loss by defeating the CSUN Matadors in a doubleheader on Saturday to get the series win at home.
The Titans won the first game of the double header 7-1 and the series finale 8-0 (5 innings) on Saturday.
The Titans offense and Myka Sutherlin were the story of the day. The Titans bats woke up and scored 15 runs on 16 hits between the two games. Myka Sutherlin started both games of the day and all three games of the series and tossed the 58th no-hitter in program history in the series finale. Sutherlin tossed 9.2 innings for the day and allowed just two hits, two walks, and struck out 16 batters in the combined two games.
Cal State Fullerton 7, CSUN 1
The Titans won the first game of the doubleheader against the Matadors to even the series with a 7-1 win.
The Titans scored 7 runs on 9 hits for the game. Jessi Alcala, Daisy Munoz, and Anaiya Mitchell had two hits a piece in the game.
The Titans took the lead in the second inning after Anaiya Mitchell singled through the right side to drive in a run.
B2 | The Titans strike first as Anaiya Mitchell finds the gap through the right side to score a runner!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/MJRbAWc4o0
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 8, 2023
The Titans put up four runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead over the Matadors. The Titans started the inning off with bases loaded after a Jessi Alcala single, a Daisy Munoz bunt single, and Hannah Becerra reached on a sac bunt error by the third baseman. Sophie Guevara looped one over the second baseman for her first hit of the season to score one.
Big time by @sophiaxguevara to get her first hit of the season as she drives in one! Bases still juiced, no outs, the Titans lead 3-0!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/FYzLiqxSaT
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 8, 2023
Ashleigh and Deshea Hill each brought in a run after both being hit by pitches. Ashleigh Dendas eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
The Titans made it a 6-0 game in the fourth inning. Jessi Alcala had a triple to center field and Daisy Munoz brought her home with a sac fly.
The Titans scored their final run of the first game after Peyton Toto hit her first home run of the season on a bomb over the left field fence.
B5 | Peyton Toto got that one lifted into the jet stream!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/rLdzP9b6pO
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 8, 2023
Myka Sutherlin started and went 4.2 innings and allowed zero runs on two hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Raci Miranda pitched the final 2.1 innings and allowed one run on three hits, zero walks, and two strikeouts.
Cal State Fullerton 8, CSUN 0 (5 Innings)
The Titans bats remained hot in the second game of the day and final game of the series as the Titans finished off the Matadors in a 5-inning run rule victory.
Myka Sutherlin made history again as she flirted with a perfect game and ended up tossing the 58th no-hitter in Titan history to secure the series win over the Matadors.
After starting the first game of the day, Sutherlin was ready for more action as she came back out to start the series finale. Sutherlin went 5 innings and allowed one walk and struck out nine batters as she went one batter over the minimum.
BALLGAME. NO-HITTER! @meeksmyka tosses the 58th no-hitter in program history to seal the series for the Titans over the Matadors!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/1nDD6bwXKp
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
The Titans scored seven runs in the first two innings of the game to keep their momentum from the previous game going.
Jessi Alcala and Daisy Munoz worked two out walks in the first inning and Hannah Becerra launched her seventh home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Titans a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
B1 | Absolutely crushed by Becerra to put the Titans on top!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/v8JSZoYtUn
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
The Titans added four more runs in the second inning. Peyton Toto led the inning off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a base hit by Anaiya Mitchell. Alexa Neil doubled in two runs on a drive to centerfield.
B2 | @alexaneil42 doubles in two runs to give the Titans a 5-0 lead!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/nW6xe0r0DW
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
Bailey Wallace followed her up with a double of her own to center field to score Neil.
B2 | @baileywalll smokes one off the wall to drive in Neal to make it a 6-0 game!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/vUrm0OtBHt
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
Daisy Munoz drove in Bailey Wallace with a line drive base hit to center field just over the CSUN shortstop's glove.
B2 | @daisymunozz follows that up with a RBI single to CF to make it a 7-0 game!!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/NoSWw1jkA8
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
The Titans got their eighth run of the game in the fourth inning. Alexa Neil singled and came around to score on a triple to right field by Jessi Alcala.
B4 | @jessialcala31 triples in Alexa Neil to put the Titans up 8-0 in the fourth!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/pexGE0cRE9
— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) April 9, 2023
After retiring the first 12 batters of the game, Sutherlin walked the first batter of the 5th inning on a full-count to lose the perfect game. The next at-bat, Alexa Landeros hit a short flyball to right field that Anaiya Mitchell dived and almost caught but she was able to get the force out at second to make it a fielder's choice rather than the first base hit for the Matadors. Sutherlin then settled down and fanned the final two batters to secure the series win and her second career no-hitter.
Myka Sutherlin is the 11th Titan to have pitched multiple no-hitters in their tenure as a Titan. Joining former Titan greats Terry Keasling, Kathy Van Wyk, Susan LeFebvre, Debbie Mygind, Connie Clark, Ann Van Dortrecht, Tiffany Boyd, Cheryl Longeway, Jodie Cox, and Marissa Marzan.
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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