Cal State Fullerton senior Jodie Cox's two-out, two run single in the
top of the seventh brought the Titans back from a 6-4 deficit, and an
error by the LSU shortstop plated Cox with the winning run as No. 7 Fullerton
defeated No. 9 LSU, 7-6 in a rain-delayed contest on Saturday night in
Columbus, Ga.
Fullerton improved to 11-4 overall and has won its last five consecutive
games. LSU fell to 10-4 overall. The game was delayed twice by rain, totalling
38 minutes, and lasted 3:38 overall.
The Titans jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the second by
Cox, who was 4-for-5 on the day with three RBI, to score Krista O'Hanian.
Cal State Fullerton tacked on two more in the third on back-to-back home
runs by O'Hanian and junior Jennifer Holt to extend the lead to 3-0. The
home runs were the first of their Titan careers.
The Tigers battled back in the third, plating two runs thanks to four
straight one-out hits and tying the score on an RBI groundout by Blair
Smith.
LSU took what was thought to be a commanding 6-3 lead after a fly ball
with two outs was dropped by the Titan leftfielder and all three baserunners
came home.
Cal State Fullerton answered with a two-out RBI double by Jody Campbell
to cut the lead to 6-4 before the rains came.
After a 35 minute rain delay, the Titans came out swinging in the top
of the seventh, scoring three unearned runs to win the game. O'Hanian
reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second on a single
by Holt.
Senior Kristy Halagarda then sacrificed the runners over and Gina Oaks
popped out for the second out of the inning to bring up Cox. The senior
then peppered the ball right back up the middle to score both runners
and tie the score at 6-6.
With Jenny Topping at the plate, Cox stole second to put the winning run
in scoring position. Topping then hit a hard shot to short, where the
shortstop knocked the ball down, but threw wide to first base, allowing
Cox to come around and score from second base.
Oaks (8-1) then set the side down in order in the bottom of the seventh
to end the game.
Cal State Fullerton stranded 12 runners on base for the game, including
leaving the bases loaded in the first, second and fourth innings.
Cox was 4-for-5 on the night with two runs scored and three RBI. O'Hanian
and Holt each added two hits.
The Titans return to action on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. (EST) to take
on No. 10 Oklahoma in a game originally scheduled for Saturday night,
but postponed because of impending inclimate weather. Cal State Fullerton
is then scheduled to face Villanova at 1 p.m. (EST).
