The Cal State Fullerton softball team accomplished its mission of reclaiming the Big West Conference title. Now, the Titans take on a stiffer challenge.

Fullerton is headed to the Tempe Regional of the NCAA tournament, which is being hosted by No. 8 national seed and reigning Pac-12 champion Arizona State. The Titans (36-20 overall, 20-7 Big West) begin the four-team, double-elimination event against the Sun Devils (39-9, 20-4 Pac-12) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Mountain West champion San Diego State (37-14) meets LSU (34-21) in the first game at 5 p.m.

That ASU went 20-4 in a conference that placed eight teams in the 64-team NCAA bracket speaks volumes about the program, which won the Women’s College World Series title in 2011.

The Titans, who won two of three games against rival Long Beach State last weekend to clinch their 13th Big West title, could have their hands full in the opener. They went 1-3 against Pac-12 opponents this season, beating Arizona, 1-0, in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs but losing games to Cal (7-3), Oregon (4-3) and UCLA (13-0). Fullerton hasn’t faced LSU since 2015 but did beat SDSU, 7-3, in the Nutter event in February.

As a team, Fullerton hit .307 with 39 home runs and 296 runs scored. Big West Field Player of the Year Megan Delgadillo anchors the lineup after batting .396 with 47 stolen bases (fourth in the nation). All-Big West first-team selection Jessi Alcala has a .380 batting average, six home runs, 35 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Peyton Toto, another first-team all-conference player, is batting .367 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

Daisy Muñoz, who provided dramatic home runs in both victories over LBSU last week, is hitting .335 with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs. Hannah Becerra (.310, eight home runs, 36 RBIs, 48 runs, 43 walks) and Antuanett Dean (.322, 20 stolen bases) have also been steady contributors on offense.

Fullerton pitchers have compiled a 3.46 ERA with a .252 opponent batting average and 324 strikeouts in 370-2/3 innings. Myka Sutherlin (15-6, 2.50 ERA) sets the pace with 143 strikeouts in 134-2/3 innings. She had a no-hitter earlier this season against Cal State Bakersfield and also picked up huge wins against Arizona and Northwestern. Freshman Raci Miranda (11-6, 2.93 ERA) is the Titans’ other main starter, logging 87 strikeouts in her 112-1/3 innings in the circle.

The Sun Devils are batting .320 with 94 home runs, and five starters are hitting above .300 for a team that is fourth in the nation in slugging percentage (.627). Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Cydney Sanders (.420, 20 HRs, 61 RBIs, 48 runs) and Yannira Acuna (.413, 12 HRs, 37 RBIs, 57 runs) have done the most damage, but Alynah Torres (.360), Jazmyn Hill (.333), Savannah Price (.333), and Emily Cazares (.320) are all steady contributors.

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Lindsay Lopez (12-3, 1.75 ERA), Marissa Schuld (9-2, 1.96 ERA) and Mac Morgan (16-3, 2.69 ERA) handle the pitching for ASU, which has hosted a regional eight times since 2007.

The Tempe Regional winner advances to a best-of-three super regional against the winner of the regional being hosted by No. 9 seed Northwestern. The super regional winner earns one of the eight spots in next month’s WCWS in Oklahoma City.

TEMPE REGIONAL SCHEDULE (all times PT)

FRIDAY

Game 1: San Diego State (37-14) vs. LSU (34-21), 5 p.m.

Game 2: CS Fullerton (36-20) at No. 8 Arizona State (39-9), 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Game 3: Winners of Game 1 and Game 2, 2 p.m.

Game 4: Losers of Game 1 and Game 2, 4:30 p.m.

Game 5: Loser of Game 3 and Winner of Game 4, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY

Game 6: Winner of Game 3 and Game 5, 3 p.m.

Game 7 (if nec.): Games 6 participants, 5:30 p.m.