Titan senior Jenny Topping was 6-for-7 on the day with five RBI as No.
7 Cal State Fullerton swept a doubleheader from visiting Cal Poly by the
scores of 9-1 in six innings and 7-1 in the nightcap on Sunday afternoon
at the Titan Softball Complex.
The two victories, coupled with Long Beach State's doubleheader sweep
of UC Santa Barbara, reduces the Titans' magic number to clinch the conference
to two games with four to play. Cal State Fullerton, winners of 16 of
its last 17 games dating back to the end of March, improved to 35-13 overall,
16-1 in the Big West. Cal Poly fell to 20-36, 5-12.
In game one, senior Jodie Cox was 3-for-4 with four RBI, including a two-run
home run, to help power the Cal State Fullerton offense to a 9-1 victory
over Cal Poly in six innings.
Cox's fourth home run of the year came in the third inning, a lined shot
over the right field fence on the first pitch she saw from starter Jamie
Gelbart (8-12). Senior Krista O'Hanian added to the power display, slugging
her fifth home run of the season in the second inning, a two-run shot
to left to get the Titans on the board.
Topping had three hits on the day, including an RBI single in the third.
Cox added a pair of RBI in a four-run sixth inning and was followed by
RBI hits from Amy LaRocque and Jody Campbell to end the game.
Cal Poly got its lone run in the sixth, scoring on an inside the park
home run by AmyJo Nazarenus after the Titan fielders collided in right
centerfield.
Gina Oaks (17-6) earned the victory, going the distance and allowing just
the run on five htis, walking two and striking out five. Gelbart allowed
five runs (four earned) on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings, walking three.
Cassie Vanderbeek pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs
on six hits.
In game two, Gina Oaks had three hits and Jenny Topping added three hits
and four RBI as the Titans defeated the Mustangs, 7-1.
Jodie Cox (17-7) won her 21st consecutive Big West Conference start, allowing
just one hit and striking out six on the day in five innings of work.
Freshman Roxy Moran pitched the final two innings, allowing a run on three
hits.
Eva Nelson (5-12) suffered the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits
in two innings of work. Cassie Vanderbeek pitched the final four innings,
allowing four runs on three hits, walking three and striking out one.
The Titans got on the board in the first on a sacrifice fly by Amanda
Hockett and added two more in the third on a two-run double by Topping
for the 3-0 lead.
Fullerton extended the lead to 5-0 on an RBI double by O'Hanian and an
run-scoring single up the middle by Jennifer Holt.
Cal Poly scored a run in the sixth as Carrie Schubert singled to centerfield,
scoring Natalie Carrillo to cut the deficit to 5-1.
Topping put up two more runs in the sixth, slamming her seventh home run
of the season over the right field fence on the first pitch she saw from
Vanderbeek for the 7-1 advantage and the Titans shut things down from
there.
Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly close out the three-game series on Monday
afternoon (May 5) at 1 p.m. at the Titan Softball Complex.
