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CSUF sophomore shortstop Shianne Brannan fields a grounder to complete the out at first base during the Titans’ 5-0 victory over the Fresno State Bulldogs on Tuesday. The Titans continue to impresses as they improve their overall record to 24-9.
(Patrick Do/Daily Titan)
In what continues to be a highly impressive month for Cal State Fullerton softball, the Titans swung for the fences en route to a 5-0 shutout win over the Fresno State Bulldog on Tuesday night at Anderson Family Field.
Following a 10-1 blowout loss March 8 at the hands of the Florida State Seminoles, one of the nation’s top teams with a current 23-3 overall record, the Titans have since been on a tear and have won 11 of their last 12 games. Their lone loss was a 2-1 defeat to No. 6 Alabama in the Easton Tournament last Thursday.
On Tuesday night, the Titans’ pitcher-catcher duo of senior lefty Desiree Ybarra and junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez simply overwhelmed the Fresno State Bulldogs from the get-go.
In the first inning, Fresno State senior righty Jill Compton allowed a leadoff single to sophomore outfielder Samantha Vandiver and a walk to senior third baseman Missy Taukeiaho. This set up Gonzalez for a three-run homer to give the Titans a 3-0 lead.
Gonzalez, who had a season-high four RBIs on Tuesday night and hit her fourth home run of the season, attributed her successful evening at the plate to sticking with the team motto.
“Our motto right now is ‘Getting one pitch and getting your pitch.’ Just being patient at the plate and once you see your pitch, unleash,” Gonzalez said.
Thanks in large part to the Titans’ lack of injuries, Gonzalez and her teammates have consistently managed to compete at a high level throughout the season.
“We’re just staying composed and playing our game, staying on top of our game and continuing to be healthy.” Gonzalez said.
Ybarra was unstoppable in the circle for the Titans, as the southpaw cruised to a complete-game shutout over Fresno State. The senior, who improved to 7-4 on the season, handed the Bulldogs a whopping 11 strikeouts and only gave up four hits in seven innings pitched.
CSUF Head Coach Kelly Ford was very impressed with Ybarra and her players, as Fullerton has outscored its last three opponents by a combined score of 15-1.
“(Ybarra) is just getting ahead, we’re getting the leadoff out,” Ford said. “She just stayed in her zone. To watch her on the mound, she just looks like she’s all business.”
CSUF got themselves into a bind in the top of the fourth inning, but the rally was quickly squashed when Fresno State second baseman Malia Rivers was tagged out at home after a wild pitch.
“That play at the plate was a big momentum shifter. They got their coach kicked out and they kind of got internal with that, so we capitalized on that,” Gonzalez said.
CSUF gained a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to RBI singles from Gonzalez and junior outfielder Delynn Rippy.
After this win, Fullerton now dons a 24-9 overall record while the Bulldogs drop to 18-9-1.
Looking to keep the momentum alive, the Titans will travel to CSU Bakersfield (6-15) to take on the Roadrunners on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Roadrunner Softball Complex.
