Cal State Fullerton's Gina Oaks and Jodie Cox both tossed complete-game
shutouts and combined to strikeout 21 batters on Saturday afternoon as
the No. 10 Titans softball team rolled to victories over Mississippi State
and No. 14 Stanford by the scores of 3-0 and 6-0 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic
hosted by Arizona State in Phoenix, Ariz.
Fullerton improves to 6-1 overall on the season having won its last five
consecutive games -- four of those against ranked opponents. Cal State
Fullerton remains perfect in tournament play at 4-0 with two games remaining.
In game one, Oaks struckout 11 Bulldogs batters and sophomore Heather
Saltarelli's kicked started a three-run inning with an RBI single in the
second to score senior Krista O'Hanian for the game-winning run in the
3-0 Titan victory.
Oaks improved to 4-0 on the season, throwing her fourth complete game
of the year and her second shutout of the season. She also added an RBI
double of her own in the second inning.
In game two, Cox (2-1) went the distance for the second straight day,
striking out 10 Cardinal hitters and holding No. 14 Stanford to just one
hit on the day as the Titans cruised, 6-0. Cox also helped out her own
cause with an opposite field home run in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Junior catcher Jennifer Holt gave the Titans the only run they would need
in the second with an RBI single to score pinch runner Crystal Medina
for the 1-0 lead.
Fullerton scored in five of the seven innings, including a home run by
Saltarelli -- her second career round-tripper -- in the fourth inning.
Senior Amanda Hockett also added a two-run double in the fifth.
The Titans return to action on Sunday morning (Feb. 9) as they take on
No. 4 Nebraska at 8 a.m. and close out the tournament with a game against
Iowa State at 10 a.m.
