Cal State Fullerton softball stifles Hawaii in series-opening 5-0 victory

Daily Titan

In the opening game of its weekend series against Hawaii, Cal State Fullerton softball was able to come away with a 5-0 victory that included a Lexi Gonzalez home run and a shutout from Kelsey Kessler .
“Everything really came together tonight,” Head Coach Kelly Ford said. “It is an accumulation of hard work and staying focused.”
Kessler was able to throw her fifth shutout while earning her 13th win of the year, going seven innings while giving up six hits and striking out nine of the 27 batters she faced.
“She did fantastic,” Ford said. “They’re (Hawaii) really known — and always have been — for their offense and she just kept them off balance.”
The Titans were able to strike in the bottom of the third against Hawaii starting pitcher Brittany Hitchcock, after an Ariana Williams two-RBI single and a two-run home run from Gonzalez, putting the Titans in the driver seat with a 4-0 lead.
“With a pitcher throwing a drop ball, instead of chopping down I was just trying to focus on getting under it, ” Gonzalez said.
In the sixth, Bryanna Ybarra singled up the middle to drive in Zoe Richard, extending the Titan lead to 5-0.
It was all the run support Kessler needed to bring home a victory in her 11th complete game of the year.
“She worked it with three speeds, and I was so impressed with her composure and presence on the mound tonight,” Ford said. “It was outstanding.”
The Titans (24-19) resume play Saturday starting at 2 p.m. from Anderson Family Field, the first game of a doubleheader against Hawaii.



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