LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team secured the series win over Long Beach State in a 5-4 win and 11-0 run-rule victory on Saturday. With the first win, the Titans put an end to a six game losing streak when playing at Long Beach. The Titans improved to 23-14 overall and 9-5 in Big West play.Â
Cal State Fullerton 5, Long Beach State 4
Long Beach State found a 2-0 lead over the Titans in the bottom of the second inning on two bases loaded walks.
Trisha McCleskey made an early appearance out of the bullpen for Hurtado (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, K).Â
The Titans responded with two runs off three infield singles, tying the game at 2-2.
Kristalyn Romulo led off the top of the third flexing her speed, beating out a throw from Long Beach State's third baseman for an infield single and stealing her 15th base of the season.
Kate Verhoef extended her bunt single to two bases, allowing Romulo to score. Verhoef then scored on a throwing error by Long Beach's catcher after
Colby McClinton stole second base.Â
Long Beach found momentum in the bottom of the fifth, regaining a two-run lead over the Titans on a base hit through
Sarah Perez at shortstop.Â
Down 4-2, McClinton opened the sixth inning with a bunt to the catcher before finding her second stolen bag of the day. The Titans tied the game at 4-4 on a
Nataly Lozano double into left field, scoring McClinton and Perez (single).Â
Sarah Coccillos found the first Titan lead of the day (5-4) on a single through the left side that scored Lozano.Â
Trisha McCleskey held the leadoff hitter at third base with the help of her outfield, sending the game into the seventh inning with a 5-4 lead over The Beach. Two defensive errors by the Titans and a sacrifice bunt by Long Beach State put the tying run in scoring position before Perez found
Alexia Lopez behind the dish to tag the tying run out at home. McCleskey (5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3K) secured the 5-4 win on a strikeout swinging.Â
Cal State Fullerton 11, Long Beach State 0 (5 innings)
The Titans beat The Beach onto the scoreboard in the second inning as Lopez (double) scored on a throwing error by the first baseman. The Titans kept passing the bat as Verhoef (single), McClinton (fielder's choice) and
Sarah Perez (single) extended Fullerton's lead to 4-0.Â
Lopez led off the third inning with a triple to left field, forcing Long Beach to make a call to the bullpen. Coccillos drove Lopez in on a double to center field for a 5-0 lead, which turned into a 6-0 lead a batter later on a sacrifice fly by Verhoef.
The Titans entered run-rule territory, scoring two more runs off a Perez (2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI) triple to left-center field.Â
The Titans tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on two base knocks by Lozano and Lopez before
Leanna Garcia pitched her third complete game of the season, silencing Long Beach's offense to one hit and three strikeouts.Â
The Titans return to Long Beach State for the series finale on Sunday, April 6. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.Â
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