Feb. 8, 2008

Box Score

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton junior Courtney Martinez snapped a 3-3 tie with an RBI triple to key a four-run fifth inning and help lift the host Titans to a 7-3 win over Santa Clara on Friday night at Anderson Family Field.

Fullerton, opening at home for the first time since 2002, won its third consecutive season opener in improving to 1-0. The Broncos fell to 0-1 with the loss.

An extra-base hit barrage with one out in the fifth broke open a close game as Jessica Doucette doubled to right centerfield and was brought home on Martinez's triple over the head of the rightfielder to make it 4-3.

Senior Katie Gollhardt followed with a run-scoring double of her own to knock Broncos starter Jackie Morales (0-1) from the game. Kiki Munoz then followed with another double that snuck just inside the left field line and a two-base error on Lauren Lupinetti's deep drive to center plated pinch runner Vina Rodriguez with the final run.

Senior right-hander Jessica Doucette (1-0) was solid in her first start of the season, holding Santa Clara hitless until the fifth inning when the Broncos struck for three runs on hits by Breann Netto and Ashley Grove to erase a three-run deficit.

Doucette, who retired six in a row and nine of 10 at one point, finished with eight strikeouts on the night.

The Titans jumped out to the early lead as Doucette drew a lead-off walk and eventually came around to score on Munoz's base hit up the middle to make it 1-0.

Fullerton tacked on two more in the second thanks to the bat and baserunning of Jenna Wheeler. Sophomore Sheila Holguin led off the inning with a single and scored on Wheeler's single up the middle two batters later.

After an error put Wheeler on third, she delayed her run to the plate as the throw went down to second to catch Ari Cervantes trying to steal, scoring easily for the 3-0 advantage.

Santa Clara got the runs back in the fifth as a walk and a bloop hit to right field by Jenna Fong put a pair on for the Broncos. Netto followed with another bloop hit to right to score pinch runner Britney Sanford and Grove followed with a two-run double to the fence in left field to tie the game.

Morales pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a pair of walks in the loss. Kaitlyn Rauschnot pitched the final 1 2/3, allowing an unearned run on two hits.

Play continues at Anderson Family Field on Saturday (Feb. 9) beginning at 10 a.m. as No. 5 Oklahoma takes on Nevada, followed by the Titans and Wolf Pack at 12:30 p.m. and the Titans and the Sooners at 3 p.m.