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Cal State Fullerton softball isn’t just winning games — they’re changing what it means to put on a Titans jersey. Under the leadership of back-to-back Big West Coach of the Year Gina Oaks Garcia, a former Titan standout and alumna, the program has blended legacy with a new level of expectation. The regular-season and 2026 Big West Softball Championship victors ranked among the nation’s best mid-majors, Cal State Fullerton has found an identity rooted in connection, confidence, and a relentless brand of “focused fun.”
The Titans aren’t simply chasing wins; they’re building something bigger. With a roster anchored by leaders like Big West Field Player of the Year Sarah Perez, All-Big West First Team pitcher Eva Hurtado, the team has embraced accountability and energy as trademarks — the kind of attributes that show up when the pressure is highest, and the lights are brightest. Alongside Perez and Hurtado, the squad boasts Big West Defensive Player of the Year Sarah Coccillos, four additional league first-team honorees in Alexia Lopez, Nataly Lozano, Tricia McCleskey and Colby McClinton as well as Championship Most Valuable Player Leanna Garcia and many more, a stacked roster poised to make noise in the national postseason.
As the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Championship regionals at UCLA approach, the Titans are playing with purpose, unity, and the kind of joy that makes every inning feel like a statement.
A Full Circle Standard
For Oaks Garcia, the journey from Titan player to head coach has come full circle — and with it, a renewed vision for the program’s culture. “It was fun to be a player here, but honestly I’m having an incredible time as a coach just getting to be a part of these young women’s lives in their transformative years,” Oaks Garcia said. “It’s been fun to even set more of an elevated standard.”
That elevated standard starts with relationships. “They take pride in getting to know each other on and off the field. They’re willing to have conversations when need be — just like any family, it’s not always easy — and that helps them push each other really well on the softball field.”
It’s a dynamic that’s visible in the way Cal State Fullerton competes: composed, connected and completely locked in on the moment. “We call it focused fun or one mode mentality,” Oaks Garcia said. “They’re all in, and they know that if it’s not their time, it’s somebody else’s time. They encourage one another and have each other’s back.”
That approach has translated into one of the most consistent and resilient teams in The Big West — one that treats every game like a chance to inspire. “We call it showtime every single weekend because there are always little girls in the stands looking up to them,” Oaks Garcia said with a smile. “They’re always hustling, and even if they make a mistake, they know it’s about the next play. They don’t dwell on it.”
Hard Work, Recognition and the Road Ahead
The Titans’ rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. This season, Cal State Fullerton has climbed into the top tier of mid-major rankings, rising as high as fourth in the listings and earning national respect, while keeping their focus firmly on the process. “Hard work pays off,” Oaks Garcia said. “They come to the field each and every day with an open mind. They’re very coachable, they receive information, and they want to take it to the next level.”
That willingness to be coached — and to hold each other accountable — is what she believes separates this group. “They’re not resistant to coaching or even player feedback,” she said. “We have a little chip on our shoulder from last season, and I think that’s why we’re getting some recognition.”
But external praise isn’t the goal. “Recognition is great, but at the same time it’s about playing Titans softball,” Oaks Garcia added. “We’ve got to be as consistent as we’ve been from day one. If we stay that way, we can hang with anybody out there — and then some.”
Confidence on the Mound
Much of that consistency has come from the circle, where Hurtado has stepped into a leadership role with poise beyond the number of years wearing the uniform. “I have definitely grown a ton in my confidence over the fall coming into the spring,” the sophomore said. “Building my confidence on and off the field has been really important to me, and it’s definitely shown in my presence on the mound.”
Her mindset is built on trust — in herself and in the preparation. “I try not to think too much about who we’re playing,” Hurtado said. “I just have to trust my stuff and my preparation and take every pitch one at a time.”
That simplicity has helped her thrive against some of the nation’s toughest lineups, and it mirrors the team’s collective approach to the season: stay present, stay together and let the work speak. “Our one-on-one relationships with each other have grown a lot since the fall,” The Ladera Ranch, Calif., product noted. “Our leaders and captains have done a great job having us come together with one mindset.”
That unity is reflected in a set of shared goals that guide their daily habits and keep everyone aligned. “We have this vision board with goals we want to achieve,” Hurtado said. “We stick to them individually so that when we come together we can achieve them as a team.”
Leadership in Action
If Hurtado embodies calm in the circle, Perez brings command to the infield. As the Titans’ leadoff hitter and shortstop, The Big West’s Field Player of the Year has embraced her role as a tone-setter in her junior season. “Being leadoff compared to my freshman year has been a great way to set the tone,” Perez said. “I love creating havoc and being a leader on the field — being loud for my pitchers and everyone around me.”
For Perez, leadership is less about words and more about presence. “I’m typically not a very vocal leader,” the native of Whittier, Calif., said. “I love to lead by example. Everyone has a role — whether you’re on the field, on the bench, or in the stands — and that takes real leadership: being there for one another and having faith in each other.”
At shortstop, that faith turns into action. “When the ball is hit my way, I just control the controllables,” Perez said. “Ball first, then make a good throw. I trust my preparation and know that my teammates trust me to make the play.”
That trust and energy have become trademarks of the Titans’ dugout — a place where grit and joy coexist. “We have so much grit and fight,” Perez said. “If you were to see us in our dugout, it goes crazy. We have so much fun. Every game we bring so much fire and energy, and I think that’s what separates us from other teams.”
The Titans’ standard is clear: play with purpose, play for each other, and play the game the right way. “They just have each other’s back,” Oaks Garcia said. “And it’s fun to see.”
With the postseason looming, Fullerton isn’t looking ahead — they’re looking inward. One pitch at a time, one moment at a time, the Titans are proving that a connected team with a clear identity can compete with anyone in the country.
Cal State Fullerton begins that journey on Friday at 4:30 p.m., squaring off against No. 7 seed South Carolina from Easton Stadium in Los Angeles on ESPN2. The Titans will again play on Saturday, May 16, at 2 o’clock with a win over the Gamecocks or again at 4:30 p.m. with a loss. The other two teams in the regional are host an No. 2 seed UCLA and first-time postseason participant and future Big West foe California Baptist.