FULLERTON, Calif. – The Cal State Fullerton softball team defeated Cal 9-3 on Saturday night at the 20th Judi Garman Classic. The Titans improved to 9-9 overall and head into the tournament's final day with a 3-0 record. 

The Titans opened the game on a rough note, allowing two runs on an outfield error and a walk in the top of the first inning. Fullerton's bats responded with 11 hits, speedy baserunning and strong outings from the pitching staff.

Eva Hurtado started in the circle where she was charged with three unearned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning. She ended the game with a no-decision as her offense produced nine runs off 11 hits and two errors by Cal. 

Leanna Garcia and Trisha McCleskey helped hold Cal's offense to two hits and no additional runs, combined with Hurtado to set a new season-best 13 strikeouts. Garcia (2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K) was awarded the win on her birthday and moved to 2-0 on the season. McCleskey led the Titans staff with six strikeouts across the final four innings of play. 

Colby McClinton (1-for-4, 2 R, RBI) hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning to cut Cal's lead to 3-1. She is slashing .345/.377/.672 with 17 RBI. McClinton's four home runs are tied for third in The Big West with Alyssa Dethlefson (UC Davis) and Jamie McGaughey (Hawai'i). 

Colby McClinton gets the Titans on the board with her fourth home run of the season! #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/HaC6qDeJPl

— Titans Softball (@Fullerton_SB) March 1, 2026

The Titans tied the game at 3-3 in the second, capitalizing on a base hit to center field by Kate Verhoef (3-for-3, 2 RBI) and a fielder's choice by Sarah Perez (1-for-4, R, RBI) that plated the tying run. 

Nataly Lozano (2-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB) gave the Titans a slim 4-3 lead in the third inning with an RBI single up the middle that scored Sarah Coccillos. Coccillos (2-for-4, R) reached safely after following Alexia Lopez as part of three consecutive singles. 

Offensive production from both dugouts grew silent in the fourth before Fullerton plated five insurance runs on five hits and one error in the fifth inning. 

Perez led off the fifth with a single before her and McClinton rounded the bases on a throwing error by third base, resulting in an inside-the-park home run and a 6-3 lead. Coccillos and Lozano contributed base hits to score Briona Ferdman (SB) from second. Verhoef recorded her second RBI single of the night, and Gianna Lomeli plated Fullerton's final run with a sacrifice fly at the wall in center field. 

McCleskey closed the 9-3 victory with a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning. Garcia earned her second win of the season on her birthday. 

The Titans close out nonconference play against Seattle U at 11:45 a.m. and LMU at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. 

SUPPORT THE TITANS!
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.

FOLLOW THE TITANS!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titan Athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook/FullertonTitans), X (@FullertonTitans), Instagram (@FullertonTitans), YouTube (FullertonTitansAthletics) and TikTok (@FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own Instagram (@Fullerton_sb) and X accounts (@Fullerton_sb).

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.