Cal State Fullerton Takes Game One In Big West Deciding Series

Friday, May 13

Fullerton, Calif.

5 p.m.

Long Beach State University

28-21, 18-7

Cal State Fullerton

35-19, 19-6

Long Beach State

Cal State Fullerton

Photo by: John Fajardo

Cal State Fullerton Takes Game One In Big West Deciding Series

5/13/2022 8:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Long Beach State will need to win both games Saturday to win the series and the Big West title.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

FULLERTON, Calif. – In a wild back-and-forth game, Long Beach State struck first but the Titans struck last to hold on at home in an 8-6 walkoff win for Cal State Fullerton.

                Long Beach State (28-21, 18-7 Big West) struck first as Naomi Hernandez got the Beach rolling with a one-out single. Ashleigh Inae was hit by a pitch to put two on in front of senior Rylie Seip whose hot streak continued. Seip doubled to the right center wall to score a pair and give the Beach a 2-0 lead.

                After chasing starter Myka Sutherlin, the Beach stranded three in the second inning, but had more traffic on in the third. Seip got the action started with a single, and with the bases loaded, a walk to Justine Briones made the score 3-0. An RBI groundout from pinch hitter Rebekah Durazo added one more and Long Beach State pushed their lead to 4-0.

                A solo home run by Jessi Alcala put Cal State Fullerton (35-20, 19-6 Big West) on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Titans made their big push in the bottom of the fifth inning. Deshea Hill started the inning with a single, but Samantha Fowler picked up two outs to set the stage to get out of the inning.

                The Titans would load the bases with another single and a walk, and then a hit batter brought home the second run of the game for Fullerton. An error by Marissa Caballero allowed two more runs to score, tying the game, and then a single by Peyton Toto put the Titans in the lead 5-4.

                Needing to score in the top of the seventh, Long Beach State came through with the bottom of the order. Marissa Caballero started the rally with a single, and after another hit from Sara Olson, Naomi Hernandez came to the plate. Hernandez, who had reached in all four of her plate appearances, doubled down the line to score both runners and give the Beach a 6-5 lead.

                Quinlan, who had been outstanding in relief, picked up a quick out in the bottom of the seventh, but Hernandez just missed a spectacular catch in the outfield for her first allowed hit and brought the winning run to the plate. A fielder's choice left two on in front of Daisy Munoz, who lifted a home run to left field to end the game in favor of the Titans. 8-6.

                After the loss, Long Beach State will need to take both halves of the doubleheader tomorrow to win the series and claim the Big West title, otherwise it would go to the hosts. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and both games will be broadcast on ESPN+.