Long Ball Powers Titans to a Pair of Victories Feb. 15, 2003 – Las Vegas, Nev.
The No. 10 Cal State Fullerton softball team used the long ball to extend
its winning streak to three games on Saturday, slamming four home runs
on the day en route to victories over Utah, 3-1, and No. 20 South Carolina,
6-1, on day two at the UNLV Desert Softball Classic in Las Vegas.
The Titans improved to 9-4 overall on the season, notching a victory over
a ranked team for the sixth time in nine tries this season. Utah fell
to 4-4 overall and South Carolina fell to 7-3 overall.
Senior shortstop Amanda Hockett was the story of the day, slugging two
home runs and going 3-for-7 with five RBI. Senior Jenny Topping also slugged
her first home run of the season along with Gina Oaks, who hit her second
of the year.
Topping extended her hitting streak to 15 games, including notching hits
in each of the Titans' first 13 games this season.
Seniors Jenny Topping and Amanda Hockett each slugged home runs on the
afternoon while senior Gina Oaks held the Utah bats to just three hits
as the Titans defeated the Utes 3-1 in Saturday's first game.
After Oaks led off the game with a walk, Topping got the Titans on the
board quickly in the first, sending a 3-1 pitch from Ute pitcher Jen Pursell
over the left field fence for her first round-tripper of the season and
a 2-0 Fullerton lead.
Utah answered with a run in the second as Glennis Donnelly reached on
an error to lead off the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a
wild pitch and came home on a single back up the middle by Bryanne Durrence
to cut the lead to 2-1.
Gina Oaks and Pursell were then locked in a pitchers duel until the sixth
when Hockett, who was celebrating her 22nd birthday, sent a full-count
offering over the right centerfield fence to extend the Titans' lead to
3-1.
Oaks (6-1) allowed one run (unearned) on three hits, walking two and striking
out seven. Pursell (2-3) suffered the loss despite pitching well, surrendering
three runs on three hits, walking four and striking out two.
No. 10 Cal State Fullerton 6, No. 20 South Carolina 1 |
Box Score
South Carolina got on the board first in the third inning as Jodi Fittro
grounded out to second with runners at the corners to score Nancy Crane,
who led off the inning with an infield single.
The Titans threatened in the second, loading the bases with one out, but
Fullerton did not crack the scoreboard until the fifth when Gina Oaks
sent the first pitch of the frame over the centerfield fence to knot the
game at 1-1.
Cox kept the inning going with a single and moved to second when Topping's
grounder was mishandled by the second baseman with no outs. Amanda Hockett
then followed with her second home run of the day, slamming a 2-0 pitch
over the left centerfield fence to increase Fullerton's lead to 4-1.
After back-to-back one out singles in the sixth by Cox and Topping, Hockett
drove home her fourth run of the game with an RBI groundout to second
to increase the lead to 5-1.
Sophomore Jody Campbell followed two batters later with an infield single
to plate Topping for the 6-1 lead and cap the scoring.
Cox (3-3) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits, walking three
and striking out eight. Stacey Johnson (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing
four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three.
