The No. 17 Cal State Fullerton softball team posted a perfect 6-0 record,
sweeping a pair of games on Sunday to win the 2002 Worth Invitational
on Sunday afternoon at the Titan Softball Complex.
The Titans are now 15-9 overall on the season and have won their last
six consecutive games and seven of their last eight. During that stretch,
Cal State Fullerton has posted victories over three ranked teams (including
No. 1 UCLA) and two more teams which received votes in the Feb. 27 NFCA
Coaches poll.
In game one on the day, Cal State Fullerton senior first baseman Monica
Lucatero crushed a 3-1 pitch from Oregon State pitcher Monica Hoffman
over the left field fence with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for
a three-run home run and propelled the Titans to a 6-3 extra-inning victory
over No. 11 Oregon State.
Fullerton had built a 3-0 lead through three innings thanks to a solo
home run in the first by Jenny Topping (her first of the season) and added
two more in the third on a sacrifice fly by Amy LaRocque and an RBI single
by Yasmin Mossadeghi.
However, Oregon State battled back but putting up single runs in the fourth,
fifth and sixth innings. Shelly Prochaska homered in the third to get
the Beavers on the board, Loni Mendoza added an RBI single in the fifth
and Prochaska stole home in the sixth on a delayed steal to knot the game
at three.
Clutch plays on defense kept the game tied until the bottom of the ninth
as Watson was placed on second base and Topping was intentionally walked
with two outs to set up Lucatero's heroics.
Gina Oaks (8-2) earned the victory in relief of Christy Robitaille, allowing
just one hit and striking out two in three innings of work. Robitaille
allowed three runs on five hits and walked four before leaving.
In game two, the Titans battled back from an early deficit to defeat Oklahoma
State, 4-1, in the final game of the tournament on Sunday evening.
The Cowgirls struck first in the first, scoring a run thanks to an RBI
double to rightfield by catcher Ryan Realmuto for the 1-0 lead.
Cal State Fullerton answered back in the second, as Amy LaRocque and Heather
Saltarelli scored on a single by Jodie Cox to take the lead, and added
another run on an RBI infield single by Julie Watson
for the 3-1 advantage.
Oklahoma State posted threats in the fourth and fifth innings, but could
not plate a run. The Titans added their final run in the seventh on an
RBI double by Yasmin Mossadeghi to complete the scoring.
Gina Oaks (9-2) threw the complete game, allowing just five hits and striking
out seven. Lauren Bay took the loss for the Cowgirls, allowing four runs
(one earned) on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action on Wednesday (March 6) at 5 p.m.
as they host Southeastern Conference powerhouse Florida for a doubleheader
at the Titan Softball Complex.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. #17 Cal State Fullerton: 6-0
t2. #6 California: 4-2
t2. Minnestoa: 4-2
4. San Diego State: 3-2*
5. (RV) Ohio State: 3-3
t6. (RV) Oklahoma State: 2-4
t6. #11 Oregon State: 2-4
t6. Portland State: 2-4
9. #10 Pacific: 1-4*
10. San Jose State: 1-5
* Played only five games as the final head-to-head match-up was cancelled
by agreement of both coaches.
