Fresno State Beats Fullerton, Shares PCAA Title With Titans

The sixth-ranked Fresno State softball team, which has won 22 of its last 23 games, tied Cal State Fullerton for the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. title Sunday by defeating the top-ranked Titans, 8-1, at the Titan Softball Complex.

The defending NCAA champion Titans (31-5, 55-8) have gone 12-6 since their 34-game winning streak was broken by Cal Poly Pomona on April 21.

The Bulldogs (31-5, 51-14) have not lost since May 2, when Fullerton won at Fresno.

Losing pitcher Connie Clark (30-3) allowed only two earned runs, but the Titans committed six errors.

Kim Mecum was 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Bulldogs. First baseman Gena Strang also had two hits.

Junior Melanie Parrent (22-8) went the distance for Fresno, allowing one unearned run.

Tiny Glomboske, an El Dorado High School graduate, was 3 for 3 for Fullerton, and Chenita Rogers was 2 for 4. Fullerton’s only run came on a throwing error by Bulldog shortstop Martha Noffsinger, an Edison High School graduate.

The game was a makeup for a rainout April 3.

Both teams will advance to the NCAA regionals, which begin Friday. Fullerton is expected to be host of a series with an opponent to be determined.

The NCAA regionals are best-of-three series with 16 teams competing at eight regional locations. Official sites and pairings will be announced today.