TEMPE, Ariz. — The Cal State Fullerton softball team fought off elimination once on Saturday before seeing its season come to an end with an 8-5 loss to San Diego State late Saturday night at the Tempe NCAA regional.

The Big West Conference champion Titans (37-22) took an early 5-0 lead when Jessi Alcala belted a three-run home run in the first inning, then Peyton Toto added a two-run single in the second.

The Mountain West Conference champion Aztecs (39-15) scored their first run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second, then pulled even when Danielle Romanello crushed a grand slam off Raci Miranda in the third inning.

San Diego State grabbed the lead in the fifth, the first two runs scoring on an error in the Fullerton outfield, then another coming across on a throwing error by the catcher.

Megan Delgadillo and Toto both finished 2 for 4 for the Titans. Myka Sutherlin (16-7) held the Aztecs to one hit and one walk in her 3-1/3 innings of relief, but she was charged with the three unearned runs in the fifth inning.

The Big West Conference champion Titans started their day with a 3-2 victory over LSU in which both teams scored all of their runs in the first inning.

Trailing 2-0, Delgadillo singled to start the bottom of the first. She stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Toto walked to put runners at the corners. A passed ball brought Delgadillo home with the first Fullerton run, with Toto moved to second. An Alcala single and some LSU fielding struggles scored Toto, with Alcala ending up on third base. Alcala then scored on a sacrifice fly by Daisy Muñoz and the Titans had three unearned runs after sending just four batters to the plate.

Related Articles

Sutherlin went the distance in the circle for Fullerton, working around eight LSU hits and four walks while striking out four.

SDSU advances to face eighth-seeded regional host Arizona State on Sunday. The Aztecs would need to beat ASU twice to win the regional.