Cal State Fullerton softball’s NCAA regional run ends against South Carolina

LOS ANGELES — The Cal State Fullerton softball team’s run in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional ended on Saturday night with a 4-2 loss to South Carolina.

The Gamecocks’ defense and pitcher Emma Friedel (11-6) held the Titans scoreless in the final three innings to set up a rematch with UCLA in Sunday’s regional final. The Bruins beat South Carolina, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon.

“We fought really hard today, and I’m just really proud of my teammates and how they came out, and not once did I have a doubt,” senior catcher Alexia Lopez said.

“Every time we stepped on the field, everyone had a big smile on their face. Everybody was sprinting out to their positions, just like we do in practice, and every single one of us worked as hard as we possibly could.”

South Carolina (32-27) will play UCLA (49-8), the No. 8 national seed, on Sunday at 2 p.m. If they beat the Bruins, that will force a winner-take-all rematch to decide who moves on to a best-of-three Super Regional next weekend.

“I didn’t feel like we executed our plan very well against (UCLA pitcher) Taylor Tinsley,” South Carolina head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard said. “She’s been their ace all year, and she’s gotten this far, and we had a really good plan against her. Making some adjustments and making sure that we really stick to the plan, we trust it, we execute it well – it’s going to be the key for us because we do expect to see her tomorrow.”

Big West champion Fullerton (41-15) was playing in its second game of the day after beating California Baptist, 3-2, on a walk-off single, and its second game of the regional against South Carolina.

The Gamecocks beat the Titans, 7-4, in the regional’s opening game on Friday evening.

South Carolina loaded the bases at the top of the third inning on Saturday, and Tate Davis drove in Quincee Lilio with a sacrifice fly to center field for a 1-0 lead. Fullerton forced Lexie Winters to ground out for the final out.

The Titans’ Maggie Paulovich doubled and advanced to third while South Carolina opted to throw home in an attempt to get Lulu Sanchez out at home. Sanchez beat the throw, sliding in head-first, to tie the score.

“To be able to see her step up and get herself on, not chase after that drop ball inside, that’s a win in itself,” Fullerton head coach Gina Oaks Garcia said of Sanchez. “It was a lot of fun to see. That was very special, and to tie the game up – that’s what the team needed and it was fun to be in that moment.”

Sarah Coccillos hit an RBI single to bring in Paulovich and give the Titans a 2-1 lead, but the advantage switched teams again when South Carolina came up with some timely, well-placed hits in the top of the fifth.

Karley Shelton doubled to left center to score Lilio, then Davis and Winters both hit RBI singles to bring the score to 3-2 and cause a Fullerton pitching change.

Trisha McClesky came in for Eva Hurtado and struck out Arianna Rodi to get out of the jam.

South Carolina added another run at the top of the seventh inning. Tori Ensley singled to get on base and stole her 13th base of the season, and Davis hit a single to right center field to drive in her teammate for an insurance run.

NCAA Los Angeles Regional

Who: South Carolina vs. UCLA

When: Sunday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Easton Stadium

TV: TBD