May 11, 2012
Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2
FULLERTON, CA - It was a tale of two teams on Friday night at Anderson Family Field as Cal State Fullerton exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning of game two to earn a split of its doubleheader with UC Davis, downing the Aggies, 9-1, in five innings in the nightcap after being held to just two hits in a 5-0 defeat in the opener.
The split moved Cal State Fullerton to 20-30 overall and 8-12 in Big West Conference play while UC Davis fell to 23-28 overall, and 13-7 in league play with the game two loss.
The two teams complete their three-game series with the rubber game on Saturday (May 12) at 12 p.m. The Titans' senior class of Anissa Young, Morgan LeMond, Adriana Martinez, and Nicole Johnson will be honored as part of "Senior Day" festivities prior to first pitch at approximately 11:45 a.m.
GAME 1: UC DAVIS 5, CAL STATE FULLERTON 0
Justine Vela allowed just two hits and struck out nine while the Aggies rallied to score five times in the final two innings, lifting them to the shutout win in the opener.
Vela (19-12) allowed just four Titan baserunners on the day, stranding three of those at second base, while walking just two. Anissa Young and Adriana Martinez each doubled with one out off the Davis right-hander, but Fullerton could not scratch a run across.
Desiree Ybarra (13-16), who allowed just one hit through five innings, suffered the loss, charged with four earned runs on seven hits while striking out one.
Most of the damage done by the Aggies came in the sixth as a single by Amy Nunez led-off the inning and she was sacrificed to second for Megan Guzman, who singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. That brought up Cassandra Ginnis, whose perfectly placed squeeze bunt scored Nunez for the 1-0 lead.
Kelly Harman followed with an RBI single after an error moved the runners up an extra 60 feet and Rachel Miller's sacrifice fly to right brought home the third run for a 3-0 advantage. Nunez, who finished 2-for-3, capped the scoring in the seventh with a two-run home run - her fourth of the season - for the final 5-0 score.
GAME 2: CAL STATE FULLERTON 9, UC DAVIS 1 (5 inn.)
Cal State Fullerton sent 11 batters to the plate as part of an eight-run fifth inning and Adri Martinez's double to centerfield brought home the game-ending runs, lifting the Titans to a, 9-1, five-inning victory in the nightcap.
Two errors in a wild fifth extended what should have been only a one-run inning for the Titans, who tallied six of their eight hits in the game in the deciding frame. A lead-off single by Kirsten Lambertson and an error on a ball slapped by Martinez put two on for Ashley Carter, who eventually popped out after her sacrifice attempt was called back and ruled a foul ball.
An infield single by Leesa Harris followed, but a throwing error trying to get Martinez at second base allowed pinch runner Lauren Mario to score the go-ahead run. Justine Vela (19-13) then struck out Nicole Johnson for what should have been the final out of the inning, but it was just the beginning for the Fullerton offense.
Anissa Young and Courtney Snyder followed with back-to-back RBI singles for a 4-1 advantage and chase Vela from the game. That didn't stop the Titans, as Emily Vizcarra scored another run on a fielder's choice off reliever Jessica Thweatt, who promptly hit Tiffany Sheffler to load the bases.
Mario then came to the plate for her first at bat of the game and laced a double down the left field line, scoring a pair for the 7-1 lead and set the stage for Martinez with two outs. The senior didn't waste any time, as her blooper to center fell just shy of a charging Megan Guzman, allowing both Sheffler and Mario to come around and score to end the game.
Redshirt junior Katey Laban (2-7) earned the win for the Fullerton, allowing just one run on four hits in five innings of work, walking three and striking out two. Vela was charged with the loss, allowing one earned (six overall) on six hits while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Thweatt faced three batters in relief, allowing three runs on one hit, while Melanie Russell faced one batter, surrendering Martinez's game-ending double.
The Titans got on the board first in the opening inning, as Carter doubled to left centerfield to lead-off the frame, was sacrificed to third, and raced home on Johnson's fly ball to left for the 1-0 lead. UC Davis rallied to tie it in the second as J.J. Wagoner singled, moved to second on a walk to Nunez, and scored two batters later on Guzman's infield single to knot the score at 1-1.
Laban then buckled down, retiring 11 of the next 12 batters - including the final nine-in-a-row - giving her offense a chance to break through.
Snyder finished 2-for-3 to pace the Titans' offense - her first career multi-hit game - while six other Titans finished with at least one hit. Guzman was 2-for-3 to lead the Aggies' offense.