FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton Softball split their season-opening day at the Easton Classic against the San Diego State Aztecs and the No. 2/3 Oklahoma Sooners. The Titans opened the day with a 7-3 victory over the Aztecs before falling 13-3 to the Sooners.
Gina Oaks Garcia earned her first career win as head coach of Titans Softball in the team's first matchup of the 2025 season.
Cal State Fullerton 7, San Diego State 3
Leanna Garcia, who had clinched the 2024 Big West Championship title for the Titans against Long Beach State on May 11, earned her first win of the season while pitching a career-best 7.0 innings against San Diego State. Garcia allowed four hits, and a single earned run in Fullerton's 7-3 victory.
The Titans and Aztecs remained scoreless through two full frames before shortstop
Sarah Perez singled up the middle to drive in
KK Christie, who had reached on balls three at-bats prior.
Perez, a member of the All-Big West Preseason Team, collected her second RBI of the season in the fifth, retaking a 2-1 lead over the Aztecs who tied the game at 1-1 on an infield single in the fourth. The blooper down the left field line started a rally in the fifth, scoring three more runs on three hits.
Ava Arce sent a ball into left-center field for a base-clearing, three-run double. Designated player
Lulu Sanchez laid down a successful bunt to extend Fullerton's lead over the Aztecs to 7-1 before the inning's end.
San Diego State closed Fullerton's lead to 7-3 in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly to center field and an RBI base hit up the middle. Garcia retired the following batter with a fly ball to
Kristalyn Romulo in left field to secure an opening-game victory over the Aztecs.
No. 2/3 Oklahoma 13, Cal State Fullerton 3
Trisha McCleskey (3.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB) started in the circle for the Titans, holding the reigning WCWS Champion Sooners to one hit through three innings. This meeting marked the first time the Titans and Sooners faced off since 2023 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
The Sooners found momentum in the fourth inning, posting five runs on an RBI base hit and grand slam to right field.
Eva Hurtado made her debut as a Titan in relief for McCleskey, pitching a hitless 1.2 innings.
Freshman
Nataly Lozano entered the box as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning, smashing a ball over the left field wall for a three-run home run.
Abigail Salazar and
Briona Ferdman, who both entered as pinch runners, scored on the play.
Two three-run shots in the sixth and seventh innings extended Oklahoma's lead over the Titans to 13-3.
The Titans return to action hosting the Easton Classic on Saturday, Feb. 8. They are slated to play IU Indy at 4:00 p.m. and Southern University at 6:30 p.m.
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Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitansTickets.com. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan Baseball ticketing office and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
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