May 3, 2008

Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

FULLERTON, CA - The Cal State Fullerton softball team split a pair of one-run games on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Family Field, falling to No. 17 Long Beach State, 3-2, in eight innings before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the nightcap, 2-1.

The Titans move to 25-24-1 overall and 9-8 in league play with the split, while the 49ers moved to 37-13 overall and 13-4 in league play.

The two teams face off in the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon (May 4) at 12 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.

GAME 1: LONG BEACH STATE 3, CAL STATE FULLERTON 2 (8 inn.)
Brianna Goad's two-out infield single broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth and an ensuing throwing error on the play brought home a much-needed insurance run as Long Beach State withstood a late rally to hand Cal State Fullerton a 3-2 defeat.

The 49ers' rally came with two outs in the top of the inning as Titans' starter Jessica Doucette (12-12) quickly got the first two outs of the inning before running into trouble. Singles by Danielle Linke and Lacy Tyler put runners at the corners for Goad, who looped an infield single to shortstop, scoring Linke for the go-ahead run.

However, the throw to try and get Goad at first sailed away from the fielder, allowing Tyler to come all the way around and score to make it 3-1.

Fullerton tried to rally for the tying runs in its half of the eighth, but could not come up with the equalizer. The Titans' rally started off well with Doucette doubling to left field and scoring on K.C. Craddick's single to centerfield to make it 3-2.

However, 49ers' starter Brooke Turner (24-4) worked away from any further damage, sandwiching a pair of strikeouts around a ground ball and stranding the tying run in scoring position at second base.

Cal State Fullerton got on the board first in the third inning as Katie Gollhardt led off by getting hit by a pitch for the second straight at bat, moved to second on a wild pitch, and took third on a single through the left side by Kiki Munoz.

That brought up Lauren Lupinetti, who skied a ball into left field for a sacrifice fly, plating Gollhardt to make it 1-0.

Long Beach State answered back to tie the game in the fifth on a sacrifice fly of its own as Jonae Perez's fly ball to left plated pinch-runner Casey Burba to make it 1-1 and set the stage for a dramatic eighth inning.

Turner allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven in the complete-game victory while Doucette was tagged for three runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out five in eight innings of work.

Craddick led all players with a 3-for-3 day at the plate while Doucette also finished with a pair of hits - both doubles. Linke and Franciska Morlet each had two hits to lead the 49ers.

GAME 2: CAL STATE FULLERTON 2, LONG BEACH STATE 1
Freshman Torrie Anderson's pinch-hit, bases-loaded, two-out single in the bottom of the seventh plated pinch runner Vina Rodriguez with the game-winning run as the Titans rallied for two runs in the inning to defeat Long Beach State, 2-1.

The 49ers' scored the game's first run in the second inning on an RBI single by Lacy Tyler that scored Jennifer Griffin to make it 1-0.

Bridgette Pagano (13-9) then looked like she was going to make that run stand up, allowing just two hits through six innings of work.

However, the Titans' offense got to the right hander in the seventh to tie the game as Kiki Munoz led off with a single and pinch-runner Ari Cervantes moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch. K.C. Craddick then drew a full-count walk to put a pair on, but Pagano bounced back to get a strikeout for out number two.

Fullerton then took advantage of a bit of wildness as Courtney Martinez drew a full-count walk to load the bases to bring up Crystal Vieyra, who was hit on the forearm to drive home Cervantes with the tying run.

That brought up Anderson, who sent an 0-1 offering right back through the box, plating Rodriguez with the winning run on a walk-off single to clinch the split.

Freshman right hander Christine Hiner (13-11) earned the win in the circle for the Titans, allowing just one run on five hits in the complete-game win. Pagano suffered the loss, allowing the two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Four different Titans accounted for the base hits on the day as Vieyra and Lauren Lupinetti each smacked doubles. Five different players logged hits for the 49ers.

Vieyra, who was hit twice on the day, moved into a tie for second place on the all-time NCAA list for being hit by a pitch with 54. She now stands eight shy of the all-time Division I record of 62 held by Liberty's Cheryl Wyrick set in 2001.