FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cal State Fullerton softball team completed the series sweep over CSUN, defeating the Matadors 8-0 in five innings and 9-5 in the series finale on Saturday. The Titans sit 27-14 overall and 13-5 in Big West play. 

This marked the first series sweep at home for the Titans and their fourth of the season. Ava Arce slashed .444/.500/1.111 over the weekend, going 4-for-9 at the plate with two home runs, six RBI, a stolen base and four runs scored. Lozano followed in her footsteps, batting .800 (8-for-10) with two doubles, three RBI and five runs scored. 

Big West Pitcher of the Week Trisha McCleskey posted a 0.82 ERA across two appearances (11.0 IP), holding the Matadors to one earned run off seven hits. As a pitching staff, the Titans struck out 21 batters, holding CSUN to a .169 batting average. 

Cal State Fullerton 8, CSUN 0 (5 innings)

Colby McClinton, Sarah Perez and Nataly Lozano rallied three base hits in the bottom of the first inning before Ava Arce laced a ball into center field for a two-run single with no outs. 

Sarah Coccillos sent one up the middle into center field with one out on the board, trading places with Arce at second for a 3-0 lead over the Matadors. 

The top of the lineup found momentum in the bottom of the fifth inning with Lozano driving in McClinton on a double to right field and Alexia Lopez returning the favor with a two-run double. Maggie Paulovich came in to secure the run-rule victory and series win with a base hit up the middle. 

Leanna Garcia tossed five scoreless innings for the Titans, allowing two hits and a base on balls. Garcia matched her jersey number, striking out six batters to bring her total to 77 K on the year.

Cal State Fullerton 9, CSUN 5 

After a lead off walk from McClinton and a single through the hole between shortstop and third base, the Titans ended a strong first inning up 3-0. Ava Arce contributed two runs to the lead, hitting her team-leading ninth home run of the season. 

The Matadors cut the lead by a run on an RBI single in the second inning, but the Titans escaped a jam forcing CSUN to strand two runners. The Matadors brought the game within one run (3-2) in the third inning before the Titans answered back with a run of their own on a sacrifice fly by Sarah Coccillos.

Trisha McClesky entered in relief of Eva Hurtado (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K) in the top of the fourth inning after three solid innings by Hurtado. McClesky retired the side to maintain a 4-2 lead for the Titans. 

The Titans clocked CSUN's pitching in the fourth frame, plating five runs on a sacrifice bunt by McClinton, doubles by Lozano and Lopez, and a single by Coccillos for a 9-2 lead. 

After a quiet fifth and sixth inning both ways, the Matadors added a few runs in the top of the seventh. McClesky shut the door on the potential rally, ending the game in favor of the Titans, 9-5. 

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