Feb. 23, 2008

LSU Box Score | Baylor Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA - The No. 23/24 Cal State Fullerton softball team dropped a pair of games on day two of the 2008 Palm Springs Classic as No. 6 LSU edged the Titans in eight innings, 3-2, before No. 10 Baylor handed Fullerton an 8-4 loss on Saturday afternoon in Cathedral City, Calif.

The losses dropped the Titans under the .500 mark for the season as they fell to 5-6-1 overall on the year.

In the opener, Dee Dee Handerson drove home pinch runner Ashley Applegate with the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and starter Dani Hofer escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half of the inning to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 3-2.

The Titans jumped out quickly against the Tigers, getting solo home runs by Katie Gollhardt in the first and Jessica Doucette in the third for the quick 2-0 lead.

However, those would be the only two hits Fullerton would be able to muster on the day as Hofer (6-0), who finished with 14 strikeouts in eight innings pitched, retired the next 11 straight batters and did not allow a baserunner until walking Kiki Munoz in the seventh.

LSU rallied for the tying runs with two outs in the top of the seventh off starter Jessica Doucette (2-4). Tayl'r Hollis reached on a fielder's choice that erased pinch runner Tiffany Shaw at second base for the second out of the inning after Quinlan Duhon popped out for the first out of the inning.

That brought Erika Sluss to the plate, who took a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left centerfield to tie the game.

After the Titans went quietly in the seventh, Applegate pinch-ran for Jessica Mouse and was moved to third on a ground ball to the right side for out number one.

That brought up Henderson, who promptly singled back up the middle to score Applegate for the 3-2 lead. Doucette escaped any further damange by inducing Jazz Jackson to line into a double play to end the inning.

Fullerton then began to rally back in its half of the inning as sophomore Sheila Holguin was moved to third on a sacrifice by Jenna Wheeler and K.C. Craddick and Doucette were both walked, the latter intentionally, with two outs to load the bases.

Hofer, however, ended the Titans' comeback by striking out Courtney Martinez to end the game.

Doucette allowed two earned on three hits, walking four and striking out two in the complete game effort.

In the nightcap, Brette Reagan slugged a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning that broke open a close game as Baylor defeated Cal State Fullerton, 8-4.

A sacrifice fly by the Bears' Courtney Oberg got the scoring started in the third inning to make it 1-0 before Baylor exploded for a big inning in the fourth - all with two outs.

Jordan Vanatta walked and Nicole Wesley reached on a fielder's choice to put a pair on for Kirsten Shortridge, who reached on an infield bunt single to load the bases.

Tiffany Wesley, who finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, then followed with a single to centerfield, scoring Vannatta for the 2-0 lead and bring up Reagan, who launched a home run to left centerfield for the 6-0 advantage. Reagan finished 3-for-3 with the four RBI.

Fullerton got one of the runs back in the sixth as Courtney Martinez homered for the second time in as many days to cut the deficit to 6-1, but the Bears bounced right back with two more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Jordan Daniels and Alex Colyer for the 8-1 lead.

The Titans tacked on three more in their half of the seventh thanks to an error and back-to-back RBI doubles by Jenna Wheeler and Torrie Anderson with nobody out to make it 8-3.

Jessica Doucette would follow with another RBI double off reliever Shaina Brock two batters later to cut the deficit to 8-4, but Brock would induce a pair of ground outs to end any further threat.

Jenny Isham (4-1) earned the win for Baylor, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings before giving way to Brock in the seventh.

Fullerton freshman Christine Hiner (3-2) suffered her second consecutive loss, allowing six runs on six hits in four innings of work. Doucette finished the game, allowing two runs on five hits in three innings of work, striking out three.

Cal State Fullerton closes out play in Palm Springs on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. as the Titans take on Long Island University.