In the final game of the Judi Garman Classic against the North Carolina Tar Heels, Mikaela Francis (center) cheered with her team in celebration of Alexis Gonzalez’s (left) game-tying homerun in the bottom of the first inning. The Titans would go on to win the game 6-5.
(Patrick Do / Daily Titan)
The Cal State Fullerton softball team regained its early-season dominance this weekend, taking four out of five games in the Judi Garman classic and improving to 13-7 overall.
The success came after a lackluster 1-4 performance at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs during the prior weekend.
On Sunday, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and the score tied at five, CSUF shortstop Shianne Brannan stepped into the batter’s box at Anderson Family Field and ripped a single to right.
Her hit ended the classic with a dramatic flourish, giving her team the 6-5 win against the North Carolina Tar Heels, its fourth in five games.
“I’ve been struggling hitting, so to get that hit was just amazing,” Brannan said. “I almost cried. It was very emotional.”
The success at the Judi Garman Classic after a hard weekend in Palm Springs mirrors the last game of the tournament. The walk-off win came after the Tar Heels took a two-run lead in the top of the seventh while the Titans squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the previous inning.
“I think it shows how we can come back from such a devastating tournament,” Brannan said. “We can come back and turn it around the next weekend.”
On the first day of the tournament at Anderson Family Field, the Titans found success in a 3-2 extra-innings win against the Arizona State Sun Devils (18-5 overall) and a 6-3 win over the San Jose State Spartans (6-15 overall). In the Arizona State game, lefty Desiree Ybarra pitched all eight innings, striking out four and giving up only two earned runs.
“Ybarra set the tone — that win against ASU was major,” said Pitching Coach Tori Tyson. “We got beat up a little bit in Palm Springs, so to come back and hold them in check like she did, that’s a big deal.”
Against the Spartans, the Titans’ pitching continued to shine as freshman righty Sydney Golden notched five strikeouts in seven innings of work, allowing two earned runs.
Senior third baseman Missy Taukeiaho and senior designated player Sarah Moore led the charge offensively, recording two runs batted in apiece.
Friday’s game against the Wisconsin Badgers (9-9 overall) did not go as smoothly for the Titans. Fullerton’s junior pitcher Cerissa Rivera gave up two home runs and a double in the contest against the Badgers. CSUF could not overcome Wisconsin’s one-run lead, and lost the game 3-2.
In Saturday’s 2-0 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats (7-12 overall), both teams had trouble driving in runs early. The Wildcats had an opportunity in the third as CSUF went through three pitchers and gave up three straight walks, but they were shut down before they could score when Golden entered the game.
The Titans scored two runs in the bottom of that frame, which proved to be the only support Golden needed, as she pitched four no-hit innings with eight strikeouts as Fullerton received the win. The victory improved her own record to 7-1 on the season.
“That just showed a whole new level of Sydney Golden, coming in with runners on first and second with a three-two count,” said Head Coach Kelly Ford. “I’ve talked before about her composure. That was just a perfect example.”
Northwestern managed just one hit against Titan pitching.
The next challenge for the Titans will be Tuesday night against the Florida State Seminoles (17-3 overall) at 6 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.