FC SWEEPS SANTIAGO CANYON – RIDING IN FIRST IN THE OEC

The Hornet softball team came out swinging against Santiago Canyon College as the team swept past the Hawks in the three-game OEC series outscoring the Hawks 35-3.

The Hornets now sit alone atop the OEC standings at 10-2 in conference play and 21-7 overall. Orange Coast and Saddleback (8-4) are just two games back with Cypress at 7-5.

The Hornets set the tone early with an offensive explosion in the first game on Tuesday plating 14 runs in the second inning alone. Lisa Villanueva delivered the biggest swing of the game with a grand slam, while Faith Krueger added a two-run homer. Carlie Danovich and Juliana Ursino chipped in with key RBIs as the Hornets finished with 15 runs on 11 hits. In the circle, Emma Gamez was lights out. The sophomore tossed a five-inning no-hitter with only 2 walks and had 6 K's.

Game two on Thursday brought more of the same as the Hornets rolled to a 10-1 victory behind a complete-game effort from Grace Workman, who allowed just one run on 6 hits while striking out 5. Offensively, Dakoda Hilvers and Juliana Ursino both had home runs, while Zoey Bautista, Carlie Danovich, and Alexandria Valdez each delivered run-scoring hits. The Hornets totaled 13 hits and steadily pulled.

Fullerton saved its most dramatic moment for the finale last Friday. In the bottom of the fifth, with the bases loaded and the mercy rule within reach, Juliana Ursino stepped to the plate and crushed a walk-off grand slam to end the game locking down the sweep in dramatic fashion.

Now ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll, Fullerton is hitting its stride at the right time.

Up Next: The Hornets (21-7 overall, 10-2 OEC) will have a big test this week when they take on Saddleback College for another OEC series. Game one will take place at Saddleback this Tuesday, April 7^th at 2:00 pm.