What was supposed to be a friendly contest for Cal State Fullerton softball and the Japanese National Team leading into the Judi Garman Classic turned into batting practice for Japan as they scored 21 runs over five innings on Monday.
The game was cut short due to the mercy rule. Per NCAA ruling, if a team is up eight runs by the end of the fifth inning, the game is automatically over. Japan’s 21 runs were scored over the first four innings, including 10 in the top of the fourth.
Japan jumped ahead 3-1 by the end of the first inning due to a pair of errors from CSUF’s third baseman Jayda Su’e and shortstop Paola Villegas.
The Titans’ only run came in the bottom of the first inning when Evelyn Sablan scored on a passed ball with two outs with Su’e at the plate.
Japan finished the game with 17 hits, compared to Fullerton’s three.
Titans assistant coach Jorge Araujo addressed the fact that the Titans decided to rest some players during the game.
“We just had a long weekend in Palm Springs, so we wanted to give some kids a break, they’re kinda banged up,” Araujo said.
Japan’s assistant coach Mary Lucy Casarez said that she was pleased with the team’s hitting which served as a confidence booster.
“Some of them had been struggling with their hitting so maybe they feel more comfortable with their swing,” Casarez said.
Stand out performances for the Japanese team included leadoff hitter Mikiko Eguchi, who had four hits in five at-bats and two RBIs coupled with Yu Yamamoto’s homerun in the second inning.
Team Japan has been playing top programs around America, which included a loss to the University of Arizona 1-0 during the Mary Nutter Classic last weekend.
“It’s been a great experience, we have been traveling for the last month and this is the last game before we go leave tomorrow,” Casarez said.
Araujo was unfazed by Fullerton’s loss and expressed that his team was pleased with the respect and poise that Japan played with.
“I think that in our team meeting at the end, the comment that kind of stuck with me was one of our players saying that they play the game hard, they respect the game, and everything they do is honorable,” Araujo said.
The Titans will have the chance to put the loss behind them as they host the Judi Garman Classic on Wednesday, which will bring some of the best programs in the country to Fullerton.
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