The Cal State Fullerton softball team has a busy week ahead, hosting the Fresno State Bulldogs on Tuesday and heading out to Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday for a doubleheader against the Roadrunners.
In the 2016 season, the Titans have shined on all fronts with a 14-3 record in March and a 23-9 overall record. The team is also coming off an excellent outing at the Easton Tournament this past weekend with three of four victories over formidable competition.
The Titans boast a .302 overall batting average and a .384 on-base percentage. The trio of Ariana Williams, Missy Taukeiaho and Alexis Gonzalez has excelled behind the plate, with each player holding a batting average of .379 or higher.
The pitching staff has set the tone in the circle, recording a 2.40 ERA and notching 130 total strikeouts.
Senior right-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra is coming off a complete 2-0 shutout over the University of New Mexico. Her ERA has improved to 1.85 on the season, including a team-leading 62 strikeouts.
Fullerton’s sole loss in the tournament came to the No. 9 nationally ranked University of Alabama. It was a tight pitchers’ duel between the two sides, but the Crimson Tide ultimately came out on top 2-1.
The Titans’ best game of the tournament was a well-earned 7-5 victory over the No. 12 nationally ranked University of Oklahoma. CSUF was off to a sluggish start as it allowed the Sooners to take a 3-0 lead after the first inning. However, a six-run third inning from the Titans helped them overcome the deficit and eventually win the game.
The Fresno State Bulldogs are also having an impressive season as they go into the game against Fullerton with an 18-8-1 record. On the offensive end, Fresno State owns a modest batting average of .282. Its biggest weapon lies in senior infielder Whitney Smith, who is averaging .340 at the plate.
The doubleheader on Wednesday poses less of a challenge for the Titans as Cal State Bakersfield goes in with a lowly record of 6-15. However, the Roadrunners are coming off a dominant 10-2 win over the Santa Clara University from last Sunday.
Senior outfielder Sydney Raeber has performed well for the Roadrunners, as she has formulated a batting average of .373 and leads her team with a total of nine RBIs on the season.
In hopes of extending its three-game win streak, CSUF will square off against Fresno State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Anderson Family Field. The Titans will hit the road for a pair of games against Cal State Bakersfield on Wednesday.