Utah State's offense bashed out 12 hits on the afternoon, including three
home runs, to help lead the Aggies to an 11-4 victory over host Cal State
Fullerton on Sunday afternoon at the Titan Softball Complex.
Cal State Fullerton fell to 19-19 overall and 8-7 in the Big West. The
Aggies improved to 17-26 overall, 6-12 in the Big West.
Heather Straight (2-7) earned the win in relief, tossing six innings,
allowing an unearned run on four hits, walking two and striking out two.
Jessica Garnett earned the no decision, throwing one inning, allowing
three runs on two hits.
Candice Baker (8-9) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs (four
overall) on three hits, walking two and striking out four in two innings
of work. Brooke Weekley threw the final five innings, allowing seven runs
on nine hits.
Four Aggies had multiple hits, including Sara Fleming, who went a perfect
3-for-3 and was hit twice at the plate with three runs scored and three
RBI. Candice Hatch was 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and five RBI while
Michell Vlahos was 3-for-4.
The Titans were led by Amanda Kamekona and Ashley Van Boxmeer, who were
each had two hits.
Fleming got the Aggies on the board in the first as she led off the game
with a home run to left to make it 1-0. Utah State added three more in
the second when Fleming was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and
Quela Leonhardt added a two-run single two batters later to make it 4-0.
Fullerton made a game of it in its half of the inning, loading the bases
against Garnett and plating all three runs when Tiffany Hoff doubled to
right centerfield to make it 4-3.
That was as close as the Titans would come, however, as Utah State piled
on three more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Fleming and a two-run
home run by Hatch to make it 7-3.
A single run in the sixth on an error with the bases loaded made it 8-3
and the Aggies capped the scoring with three runs in the seventh on Hatch's
second round-tripper of the day.
The Titans added their final run on a bases loaded walk to Van Boxmeer
with two outs in the seventh, but Straight got Crystal Vieyra to line
out to a diving Leonhardt back up the middle to end the game.
Half of Utah State's 12 hits went for extra bases on the day as the Aggies
stranded seven runners on base. Fullerton stranded eight on the basepaths
-- six of those in scoring position.
The Titans return to action next weekend as they head north to take on
future conference rival UC Davis in a three-game series. Games begin at
noon on both days.
