The No. 11 Cal State Fullerton softball team opened
up the 2002 Big West Conference season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting
Sacramento State, defeating the Hornets 3-1 in game one and 8-0 in six
innings in game two.
With the wins, the Titans improved to 19-9 overall and 2-0 in league play,
while Sacramento State fell to 8-11, 0-2. Cal State Fullerton has won
its last 10 consecutive games and 11 of the last 12.
In game one, senior infielder Monica Lucatero went 2-for-3 and drove in
two of the Titans' three runs en route to the 3-1 win by Cal State Fullerton.
The Titans got on the board with a run in the first on an single by Yasmin
Mossadeghi that was booted by the Sacramento State centerfielder and allowed
Jenny Topping to score from second base.
Fullerton added another run in the third on an RBI double to score Gina
Oaks, and scored again in the fifth on Lucatero's sixth home run of the
season to straightaway centerfield.
The Hornets scored their lone run in the fifth, putting a runner on third
base with two outs and scoring her on an error by the Titan third baseman.
Oaks (11-2) earned the win for the Titans, allowing one run (unearned)
on four hits with three strikeouts. Jillian Bivert (3-7) received the
loss for Sacramento State.
In game two, five Titan batters had at least two hits on the day as Cal
State Fullerton pounded out 13 hits en route to the 8-0 win in six innings.
Julie Watson was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate for the Titans while Jenny
Topping, Monica Lucatero, Yasmin Mossadeghi and Amanda Hockett each had
two hits.
Lucatero also smacked her seventh home run of the season, this one a two-run
shot to centerfield with one out in the sixth to end the game. Mossadeghi
also hit her fourth home run of the season to start off the fifth inning.
Jodie Cox (5-4) earned the victory for the Titans, scattering four hits
and striking out six for the victory. Nicole Deatherage (4-1) suffered
her first loss of the season, allowing six runs (three earned) on 11 hits.
Cal State Fullerton wraps up the three-game series against Sacramento
State on Sunday (March 10) at 1 p.m. at the Titan Softball Complex.
