One Win and Titans in Softball Playoffs

Cal State Fullerton’s softball team can clinch the Big West Conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs with one more victory--or a loss by Long Beach State--in the final weekend of the regular season.

The first-place Titans (43-11, 18-3 in conference) play a three-game series at Pacific beginning Friday. Second-place Long Beach (37-20, 15-6) plays a three-game series at Sacramento State, also starting Friday.

Should Fullerton and Long Beach tie for first, the 49ers would get the automatic bid because they won their three games against the Titans.

The team that doesn’t win the automatic berth appears assured of an at-large berth in the 48-team NCAA tournament field. Sites and pairings for the playoffs are to be announced Sunday. Fullerton is bidding to host one of the eight regionals.

The Titans clinched a share of their fourth conference title last weekend with a three-game sweep of New Mexico State.

Fullerton leads the conference in batting with a .318 average and in pitching with a staff earned-run average of 1.59.

The Titans’ Kristy Osborne leads the Big West with a .385 batting average. Yasmin Mossadeghi leads the conference with 45 runs batted in and is second in homers with 11. Fullerton pitcher Jodie Cox is third in the conference with a 1.46 earned-run average.

* Fullerton High outfielder Rachelle Bock has signed to play at North Dakota, North Dakota Coach Paula Sondreal announced Tuesday.

Bock is a two-time All-Freeway League selection.

* Lacee Collins resigned as softball coach at Orange High for personal reasons, Athletic Director Alicia Seevers said Tuesday.

Collins, a second-year coach, resigned on April 26. Assistant Elizabeth Aldave has been coaching in the interim.

Orange is 3-17 overall, 0-8 in the Century League. The Panthers were 3-13 at the time of resignation, and 11-26 under her direction over 1 1/2 seasons.

VOLLEYBALL

Former Orange High volleyball player Tri Nguyen has been named girls’ volleyball coach at his alma mater, Panther girls’ Athletic Director Alicia Seevers said.

Nguyen replaced Steve Bittner, who resigned for personal reasons.