May 6, 2001

FULLERTON, Calif. - Utah State's softball season ended Sunday with a 3-0 loss at ninth-ranked Cal State Fullerton. The Aggies finished the year with an 11-39 overall record and a 5-16 mark in Big West Conference play. CSF improved to 46-12 overall and won the league championship with a 19-2 record.

Cal State Fullerton got all the runs it needed in the bottom of the first inning as the Titans scored twice on two hits. The Titans could have done more damage, but left three runners on in the inning. CSF then added an insurance run in the fourth inning for the game's only scoring.

Utah State managed just three hits on the afternoon, including singles by Heather Curtis, Kara Tarbet and Amanda Carlson. Meanwhile USU was flawless in the field, going errorless for the fourth consecutive game.

Pitcher Kristin Hommel allowed all three Titan runs as she surrendered five hits, walked seven, had three wild pitches, hit two batters and was called for a balk in four complete innings. Xochitl Ramirez pitched the final two innings for the Aggies and held CSF scoreless on two hits.

Titan pitcher Jodie Cox went the distance against USU allowing three hits, while striking out three and not walking a batter. She also overcame two errors behind her to improve to 18-5 on the season.

Utah State, which does not have a senior on its roster, closed the season by going 4-4 in its final eight games. The Aggie dropped the final three games of the year to the Big West Champions 2-0 and 5-0 on Saturday and 3-0 on Sunday.

CAL STATE FULLERTON 3, UTAH STATE 0USU 000 000 0 - 0 3 0CSF 200 100 X - 3 7 2Hommel, Ramirez (5) and Nickle.  Cox and Topping.  W - Cox (18-5). L - Hommel (1-18). LOB - USU 4, CSF, 10. SB - Oaks, Halagarda, Ziegler (CSF).  Attn: 371.