April 21, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - After starting conference play with six wins in six games, the Tigers felt defeat for the first time at the hands of Cal State Fullerton, dropping the first two contests in their three game series, falling 2-0 and 5-1 on Saturday, April 21. With the loss the Tigers fell to 31-15 overall and 6-2 in conference action while the Titans improved to 27-17 overall and 9-2 in the Big West.

The lone damage done to the Tigers and sophomore starter Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) came in the Titans' first at bat of the contest as they were able to push across two unearned runs to take the early lead. Engle retired the first two Titan hitters to start the inning before getting into trouble. With two outs, Engle walked the next two batters to put runners on first and second. With two on and two out, Engle appeared to get out of the inning unscathed a she induced a ground ball to senior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.) at short. Hagen was forced to rush her throw, pulling senior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) off of first base allowing Kiki Munoz to reach base safely.

In the ensuing confusion about the call at first base, Ashley Van Boxmeer, who was running on the play, took advantage scoring on the play an unearned run from second. With the inning extended, Katie Gollhardt delivered the first Titan hit of the day, an RBI single to right field that plated the second run of the inning.

From the first inning on, both Engle and Cal State Fullerton starter Candice Baker held each opposing team in check from the circle. Baker would give up just four hits to the Tigers while Engle gave up just three hits throughout the contest.

The Tigers' best offensive chance came in the top of the seventh inning as they were able to load the bases with two out in the inning. Sophomore Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.) put a good swing on a 1-2 pitch from Baker, but her shot turned into a line drive out to right field to end the game.

In all, Engle picked up the hard luck loss to fall to 17-10 on the year. She struck out five and walked six in six innings. Baker improved to 16-9 overall while recording five strike outs and walking four Tigers.

In game two, the Tigers struggled to get on the scoreboard for much of the contest against game two starter, Brooke Weekley, as all of their efforts went for not. Pacific was able to knock out eight hits in the game with the biggest coming on Hagen's team leading seventh home run of the season. Hagen's big fly top of the sixth inning on a 1-2 pitch to leadoff the inning for Pacific.

However, Hagen's home run came after the Titans' had posted four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open a scoreless tie. Junior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) sufferend the loss to fall to 7-3 on the season. After retiring the first Titan hitter, Jorgensen got into trouble as she walked the next batter. With one runner on the Titans finally figured out Jorgensen, knocking out three consecutive hits to plate three runs. After a Pacific pitching change Cal State Fullerton takced on its fourth and final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field.

For insurance the Titans' Courtney Martinez answered Hagen's home run in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot of her own to put Cal State Fullerton back up by four runs.

Pacific had a chance for more in the top of the seventh inning as with two outs the Tigers loaded the bases against the Titans.

In the circle, Jorgensen gave up four runs on six hits in five innings for Pacific. For the Titans, Weekley picked up the win as she relinquished eight hits, one run while striking out five.

The Tigers and the Titans will finish their three game series tomorrow, Sunday, April 22 at 12:00 pm.