Freshman right-hander Sydney Golden allowed only one earned run in two outings, one a complete game, and the other a six-inning start during Cal State Fullerton softball’s sweep of the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine this weekend. Golden improved her record to 16-3 on the season, striking out 10 in 13 total innings of work
(Patrick Do / Daily Titan Stock Photo)
Behind multiple solid pitching performances, Cal State Fullerton softball made light work of the University of Hawaii with a three-game sweep of the Rainbow Wahine this weekend.
Undefeated in April, the Titans were in prime position going into the series to further cement their top spot in the Big West against a second-to-last place Hawaii team. The Rainbow Wahine were ultimately no match for the Titans as they were outscored 16-2 in the series.
Game 1
On Friday, Fullerton opened the series with its right-handed ace, Sydney Golden, in the circle. The game started out sluggish, with both sides going scoreless through the first four innings before the Titans exploded for five runs in the fifth inning.
A string of Hawaii fielding errors put Sydney Colenzo at first and Shianne Brannan in scoring position. Then, junior outfielder Delynn Rippy stepped up to the plate and a ripped three-run homer up center field.
After a Samantha Vandiver single, senior infielder Missy Taukeiaho followed up with a homer to give CSUF the 5-0 lead.
The Titans padded their lead with a run scored in each of the sixth and seventh innings. The Rainbow Wahine managed to get on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, but it was to no avail as CSUF cruised to the 7-1 victory.
Game 2
The Titans trounced Hawaii 7-1 again on Saturday. Rather than coming alive later in the game, the Titans put the Rainbow Wahine away early, scoring all of their runs within the first four frames.
Fullerton picked up where it left off the day before, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Vandiver led off with a triple down the left field line and scored the first run of the game on a Missy Taukeiaho fielder’s choice.
Sarah Moore and Melissa Sechrest followed up with a pair of singles, loading the bases for the Titans. Senior outfielder Courtney Rodriguez then reached on a fielder’s choice, sending Moore home and increasing Fullerton’s lead to 3-0 with the help of a Hawaii error. The fourth and final run of the first inning came off the bat of Colenzo.
The Titans added insurance runs in the second and fourth innings. Hawaii finally got on the board in the seventh with a Keiki Carlos homer, that was too late as CSUF had all but secured the win.
Senior lefty Desiree Ybarra tossed a complete game, allowing seven hits but striking out six en route to improving her record to 12-5.
Game 3
The final contest of the series was not as action-packed as the previous two games, but the Titans prevailed 2-0, completing the series sweep over the Rainbow Wahine.
The first run of the afternoon came when Moore blasted a solo home run in the top of the second to right field, while the second came in the fifth when Rippy hit an RBI single up the middle, bringing in Ariana Williams.
Hawaii went scoreless in the game thanks in large part to a stellar complete-game performance by Golden who surrendered only four hits and tallied two strikeouts. The outing improved Golden’s season record to 16-3.
Fullerton (38-10 overall, 12-0 Big West) has won 13 consecutive games. In April, the Titans outscored their opponents 81-17 and have not allowed a team to score more than three runs in a game.
In hopes of continuing their incredible play, the Titans return home to host Big West Conference rival Long Beach State in a three-game series. The series opens with a doubleheader Wednesday, with the first game starting at 3 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.