Cal State Fullerton Hosts Easton Tournament This Weekend

Easton Tournament Schedule

Thursday, March 17
5:30 p.m. - Cal State Fullerton vs. Alabama | Live Stats | Video | Audio

Friday, March 18
Field 1
11:00 a.m. - Alabama vs. Grand Canyon | Video
1:30 p.m. - DePaul vs. Grand Canyon | Video
4:00 p.m. - UNLV vs. Arkansas | Video
6:30 p.m. - Cal State Fullerton vs. Oklahoma | Live Stats | Video | Audio

Field 2
11:00 a.m. - Arkansas vs. New Mexico | Video
1:30 p.m. - Alabama vs. New Mexico | Video
4:00 p.m. - DePaul vs. Oklahoma | Video
6:30 p.m. - Nebraska vs. UNLV | Video

Saturday, March 19
Field 1
11:00 a.m. - New Mexico vs. Nebraska | Video
1:30 p.m. - New Mexico vs. DePaul | Video
4:00 p.m. - Oklahoma vs. Alabama | Video
6:30 p.m. - Cal State Fullerton vs. Arkansas | Live Stats | Video | Audio

Field 2
10:30 a.m. - DePaul vs. Alabama | Video
1:00 p.m. - Grand Canyon vs. Oklahoma | Video
3:30 p.m. - Nebraska vs. Arkansas | Video
6:00 p.m. - Grand Canyon vs. UNLV | Video

Sunday, March 20
Field 1
10:00 a.m. - Oklahoma vs. Nebraska | Video
12:30 p.m. - Cal State Fullerton vs. New Mexico | Live Stats | Video | Audio

Field 2
10:00 a.m. - Arkansas vs. Grand Canyon | Video
12:30 p.m. - Nebraska vs. DePaul | Video
Weekly Release (.pdf)

A LOOK AT THE WEEK

Cal State Fullerton brings a seven-game win streak into the Easton Tournament as the Titans welcome some of the top teams in the country to Anderson Family Field. The tournament is comprised of No. 6/4 Alabama, Arkansas, DePaul, Grand Canyon, No. 23 Nebraska, New Mexico, No. 13/14 Oklahoma and UNLV.

The Titans will play four games during the tournament against Alabama (March 17), Oklahoma (March 18), Arkansas (March 19) and New Mexico (March 20).

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

Cal State Fullerton students receive free admission to Titan home games with their Titan I.D. card.

All-session passes Easton Tournament are on sale for $30 (adults), $27 (seniors 65+) and $22 (youth - 8th grade and younger).

For all pricing and additional ticket information, please click HERE.

FOLLOW THE TITANS

Fans can keep up with the latest in Cal State Fullerton athletics by following us on Facebook (FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans) and Instagram (FullertonTitans). In addition, the softball team has established its own official Facebook (csufsoftball), Twitter (@CSUFSoftball) and Instagram (csufsoftball) accounts.

KEEP UP WITH TITAN SOFTBALL

Live stats will be provided for all games this weekend. To access live stats for the games, log onto www.FullertonTitans.com and go to the softball schedule then click live stats.

WATCH THE TITANS

The Easton Tournament will be broadcast live via FloSoftball.com. Fans can purchase the package for $19.99/ month.

LAST TIME OUT

After a 30 minute break between games, the Titans wasted little time getting on the board in the nightcap against Princeton as Cal State Fullerton took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Taukeiaho drew a one-out walk and Alexis Gonzalez followed with a single to left-center to put runners at the corners. Courtney Rodriguez shot a single through the left singe to score Taukeiaho and give the Titans a 1-0 advantage.

After designated player Desiree Ybarra drew a two-out walk to load the bases, Princeton starter Claire Klausner (0-2) walked in the second run of the game as Cal State Fullerton went up 2-0.

The Titans added their third run of the game on a solo shot to dead centerfield by Taukeiaho – her second of the year.

Rivera (2-1) pitched well with a 3-0 lead and kept the Tigers off the board. She scattered just three hits over 6.0 innings and struck out seven lowering her ERA to 1.62.

In the fifth inning, Fullerton added on a few more runs courtesy of three singles and a pair of stolen bases. Moore led off the frame with a single and stole second, then Rodriguez reached on a bunt single before swiping second to put runners in scoring position with two outs for Brannan. The sophomore shortstop ripped a single through the right side plating Moore and Rodriguez to extend the Titans lead to five.

After pitching six shutout innings, Rivera's night was over as she made way for Antunez who retired the side in order to close out the game

Taukeiaho was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and a home run, while Rodriguez finished the game batting 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI, and Brannan went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

IN THE POLLS

Cal State Fullerton welcomes three ranked teams to Anderson Family Field for the Easton Tournament this weeknd and the Titans will square off against two of them in No. 6/4 Alabama and No. 13/14 Oklahoma.

This season Fullerton is 1-2 agaisnt nationally ranked opponents.

Remaining ranked teams on the Titans' schedule include No. 13 UCLA and No. 22 Fresno State.

100 AND COUNTING

Head coach Kelly Ford recorded her 100th win at the helm of the Cal State Fullerton softball program against Santa Clara on Feb. 19. Ford now owns 115 victories and looks to finish off the Easton Tournament with 119.

GOOD AS GOLD

Freshman right-hander Sydney Golden continues to perform well in the circle as she boasts a 9-2 record on the year. She has pitched five complete games and two shutouts in 14 appearances. Her nine wins are good for second in the Big West Conference. The Riverside, Calif., native owns a 2.55 ERA, which ranks fourth in the conference.

BWC PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra was named Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week for the first time this season after recording two wins over the weekend at the Louisville Slugger Invitational in which Cal State Fullerton went 5-0.

Ybarra was masterful over the weekend as she did not allow an earned run over four appearances in 15.1 innings of work.

The product out of Riverside, Calif., dominated Mississippi State, which was receiving votes in the national poll, in a 2-0 shutout on Saturday. Ybarra went the distance and yielded just four hits, three walks and struck out three.

She picked up her second victory of the tournament in Sunday's 2-1 triumph over Iowa State. Ybarra came on in relief and pitched 5.2 innings of scoreless softball, scattering two hits, without allowing a walk and fanning four.

STOP! THIEF!

Senior centerfielder Courtney Rodriguez has been swift on the base paths this season as she has stolen 13 bases in 15 attempts thus far. Rodriguez is ranked fourth in the Big West Conference with her 13 swipes on the year.

GONE-ZALEZ

Junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez leads the Titans with three home runs on the year. She belted two homers in one day at the Santa Clara Bronco Classic against Seattle and Santa Clara on Feb. 21 and helped lead Cal State Fullerton to a 6-5 victory over North Carolina with her third home run of the season on March 6. Right behind her is senior Missy Taukeiaho who blasted her second bomb of the season against Princeton on March 15.

DOUBLE VISION

This season, the Titans' defense has turned eight double plays. Three of those came in Fullerton's 10-0 win over Santa Clara, while two came in a mid-week contest versus Princeton. Their eight DP's rank fourth in the Big West Conference.

PERFECTION IN THE FIELD

Senior first baseman Melissa Sechrest is about as sure-handed as an infielder can be, posting a 1.000 fielding percentage over her 25 games. The ball has certainly found her as she has 180 total chances, resulting in 170 putouts and 10 assists. She has also helped turn six double plays on the year.

MARCH MADNESS

During the month of March, Cal State Fullerton has boasted a record of 11-2 which is an .846 winning percentage. The Titans only two losses during the month have come against No. 11 Florida State and Wisconsin.

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

Cal State Fullerton has made the most of scoring early in games. When the Titans score first, they are 18-1 on the year. Additionally, Fullerton is 10-0 when it scores in the first inning. Fullerton has scored the majority of its runs in the first this season.

THE POINT OF NO RETURN

After 28 games played, Cal State Fullerton is undefeated when leading after the fifth inning. The Titans have won 12 of their 20 victories holding onto a lead after the fifth inning.

RETURN OF THE ALL-AMERICAN

Three-time All-American Missy Taukeiaho was selected as one of 50 student-athletes on the "Watch List" for the 2016 USA Collegiate Softball Player of the Year award. The is the second straight year she has been selected to the "Watch List."

This season the senior third baseman is leading the Titans with a .393 batting average and a .643 slugging percentage. She has scored 20 runs, drove in 12, roped 13 doubles, ripped one triple and belted two homers, while drawing 16 walks on the season.

GET 'EM ON, GET 'EM OVER, GET 'EM IN

The Titans are hitting .510 (241-for-473) when successfully advancing runners on the base paths. Leading the way offensively in this situation is Courtney Rodriguez who is 38-for-58 (.655).

ALWAYS ON BASE

Junior catcher Alexis Gonzalez has played in 24 games this season with 21 starts. In those two dozen games, she has reach base 19-straight times. Her frequency on the base paths gives her a team-leading on-base percentage of .507. This season, she has reached base thanks to 22 hits, 14 walks and three sacrifice hits.

WALK THIS WAY

Missy Taukeiaho and Alexis Gonzalez are leading the Titans in walks this season. The duo have combined for 30 walks on the year as Taukeiaho leads the squad with 16 and Gonzalez has drawn 14 walks. Taukeiaho's 16 walks ranks her second in the Big West, while Gonzalez is tied for fourth.

DOUBLE DOUBLE

Missy Taukeiaho leads both Cal State Fullerton and the Big West Conference with 13 doubles on the year. Taukeiaho roped three doubles in one game earlier this season against UT-San Antonio in the season opener on Feb. 12. Hot on Taukeiaho heels with nine doubles is Sarah Moore. As a team, the Titans have recorded 42 doubles which leads the Big West Conference.

NO RELATION

The Titans have a pair of Ybarra's on the team in senior left-handed pitcher Desiree Ybarra and sophomore infielder Bryanna Ybarra. Desiree sports jersey No. 15, while Bryanna wears No. 16. With the same last name and consecutive jersey numbers, you'd think the duo are sisters - they're not.

ON DECK

Following the Easton Tournament, the Titans finish up the month of March playing four non-conference games before kicking off April with Big West Conference action.

Cal State Fullerton will welcome Fresno State to Anderson Family Field for a single game on Tuesday, March 22 at 5 p.m. The following day, the Titans will head to Bakersfield, Calif., to take on CSU Bakersfield in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

The Titans close out the month of March against UCLA on the 29th at Anderson Family Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.