Two big innings proved to be all Cal State Fullerton would need on Saturday
afternoon, as the Titans tallied a pair of five-run frames en route to
a doubleheader sweep of host Cal State Northridge by the scores of 6-3
and 6-2 at Matador Diamond.
Cal State Fullerton improves to 24-12 overall, 5-0 in the Big West. Cal
State Northridge falls to 16-16 overall, 2-3 in league play. The Titans
have won the last seven meetings with the Matadors and their last 14 consecutive
Big West contests.
Game one was a case of better late than never for Cal State Fullerton
as the Titans parlayed five-two out hits -- including a go-ahead, three-run
home run to left by Gina Oaks -- into a five-run seventh to come from
behind and defeat Cal State Northridge, 6-3.
The victory marked the sixth time this season that the Titans have come
back to win the game in their final at bats, also accomplishing the feat
against LSU at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, against California and Northwestern
at the Worth Invitational, and versus Texas and Hawaii at the Kia Klassic.
Kia Fennell (9-6) no-hit the Titans through 6 2/3 innings before Fullerton's
bats exploded. Junior Julie Watson sharply singled to left and was followed
by Heather Saltarelli, who followed suit with a single of her own.
That brought up Oaks, who sent a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to
give Fullerton a 4-3 advantage. Jodie Cox followed with a bloop single
to center and extended the Titans' lead to 5-3, scoring from first on
Jenny Topping's double that rolled to the wall in centerfield.
Cal State Fullerton tacked on one more run in the frame, when Amanda Hockett
followed with a double to center, scoring Topping for the 6-3 advantage.
Northridge threatened in its half of the seventh as the first two batters
in the inning reached on errors and advanced to third when they were sacrificed
over. However, Cox got the next two batters to ground out back to the
circle, ending the game.
Cox (10-7) won her 14th consecutive Big West Conference start, going the
distance and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, walking four
and striking out three. Fennell allowed six runs (five earned) on six
hits, walking four and striking out five. Jenny Wheeler pitched the final
1/3 of an inning, walking one.
The Titans struck first, putting the first two runners on in the fifth
thanks to a leadoff walk to Krista O'Hanian and a fielder's choice by
Amy LaRocque. The runners moved up 60 feet after a Jennifer Holt sacrifice.
That brought up Julie Watson who, with a drawn-in infield, slapped a hard
shot to third that skipped off the glove of the third baseman, allowing
O'Hanian to score for the 1-0 lead.
Cal State Northridge evened the score in the sixth, loading the bases
without the benefit of a base hit. Christen Bedwell then hit a sharp infield
single to short, scoring Katie Kearns to knot the game at 1-1.
Fennell then helped herself, giving the Matadors the lead with a two-run
single through the left side, scoring Christy Menefee and Emilee Moores
for the 3-1 advantage.
Another five-run inning in game two also proved to be the difference as
Fullerton sent nine batters to the plate in the frame en route to the
6-2 victory.
Gina Oaks (14-5) earned the victory, going the distance and allowing just
two runs on a pair of hits. She also walked two and struck out seven.
Jenny Wheeler (7-9) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits in
3 1/3 innings. Fennell struck out six in 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing
a run on three hits.
Cal State Fullerton struck first once again in the fourth inning, loading
the bases with one out and pushing across the first run of the game on
Amy LaRocque's RBI fielder's choice. Sophomore Jody Campbell followed,
adding a pair of runs with a two-run single to centerfield to make it
3-0.
Jennifer Holt made it 5-0 when she doubled down the leftfield line, scoring
LaRocque and pinchrunner Crystal Medina for the 5-0 lead.
Gina Oaks held the Matadors hitless through four innings until Northridge
broke through in the fifth, sending eight batters to the plate in the
frame. Junior Sara Summers got Cal State Northridge on the board to leadoff
the fifth, sending her first home run of the season over the leftfield
fence, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Christen Bedwell then drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Sondra
Milchiker with the Matadors' second run of the game.
Oaks worked out of the bases-loaded jam, striking out Kearns looking and
getting Moores to ground out to second base to end the inning.
Jenny Topping added an RBI single in the seventh to cap the scoring.
The two teams meet on Sunday afternoon (April 6) at 12 p.m. in the final
game of the three-game series at Matador Diamond.
