HORNET’S SEASON ENDS IN SOCAL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

The FC softball team saw its 2026 season come to a close Saturday at Hornet Field falling 2-0 to El Camino College in the third and final game of the SoCal Regional Playoffs.

The loss capped a hard-fought three-game series in which the Hornets showed resilience, including a convincing win earlier in the day to force the winner-take-all finale.

Fullerton jumped out early in Friday's series opener taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Toafa Pua delivered an RBI double to score Alana Eisel. However, El Camino responded with a 3-run fifth inning and added insurance late to secure a 6-3 win. The Hornets collected 11 hits in the loss with Pua going 3-4, (2 RBI), Juliana Ursino going 2-3, and Lisa Villanueva getting 2 hits in 3 at bats (1 RBI).

Facing elimination Saturday, Fullerton responded with one of its most complete performances of the postseason in Game 2. Once again, the Hornets struck first in the opening inning as Anela Quinones drove in Ursino and added two more runs in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

El Camino cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on a controversial two-run home run that ricocheted off the top of the right-field fence and back into play before being ruled a homer after review. Fullerton quickly answered in the sixth inning. With two outs, Ursino blasted a solo home run to left before Villanueva followed with a two-run shot pushing the lead to 6-2.

Quinones paced the offense with a 4-4 effort with 2 RBI, while Ursino went 3-4 with 3 runs scored. Villanueva added 3 RBI, and Pua chipped in 2 hits.

In the circle, Grace Workman (10-4) was impressive tossing a complete game allowing 2 runs on 7 hits to earn the win.

With the series tied, the Hornets were unable to generate offense in the finale. El Camino capitalized on a solo home run in the fourth inning and an unearned run in the seventh to secure the 2-0 win. Fullerton could only muster 4 hits in the game with Quinones, Pua, Faith Krueger, and Madison Beohm accounting for the team's offense.

Sam Vizcarra was solid in the circle allowing 2 runs (one earned) while striking out 4 over seven innings.

Despite the abrupt end the season, the Hornets put together an impressive 2026 campaign finishing 28-15 overall and advancing to the postseason for the fifth consecutive year under head coaches Crystal Aguirre and Marian "Speedy" Mendoza. The program has now reached the playoffs in 10 straight seasons dating back to when Mendoza was solo at the helm.

With a strong core expected to return, Fullerton will look to build on this year's success heading into the 2027 season.

*Photo by Myron Perez