It probably took a little longer than Head Coach Michelle Gromacki and
her No. 17 Cal State Fullerton softball team expected on Saturday afternoon,
but with the way the games came out, you can bet they will take it.
The Titans won a pair of extra inning affairs on day two of the 2002 Worth
Softball Invitational, defeating Minnesota and No. 6 California by the
scores of 1-0 and 2-1, respectively, both in eight innings at the Titan
Softball Complex.
Fullerton has now won its last four straight contests and stands alone
atop the standings of the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record and two
games remaining on Sunday. Minnesota and San Diego State are tied for
second with a 3-1 record.
In game one, Golden Gopher pitcher Piper Marten stymied the Titan bats
for seven-plus innings, allowing just three hits and three strikeouts.
However, an eighth-inning RBI groundout by sophomore Brittany Ziegler
scored pinch-runner Krista O'Hanian (who was placed on second base per
international tiebreaker rules) for the 1-0 advantage.
Senior pitcher Christy Robitaille (2-3) then came back in the eighth,
inducing Minnesota's Shelly Nichols into a double-play to start in the
frame and getting Veronica Roberts to fly out to end the game.
Robitaille allowed seven hits, two walks and notched two strikeouts in
the complete-game victory while Angie Recknor (5-2) earned the loss in
two-thirds of an inning of work.
Monica Lucatero and Jenny Topping also had hits on the day for the Titans.
In game two, Cal State Fullerton had to battle back from an early deficit
to send it to extra innings where the Titans won, 2-1, in eight innings.
With Gina Oaks placed on second base in the bottom of the inning after
California stranded a runner at third in its half of the eighth, Junior
Amy LaRocque singled on a bunt moving Oaks to third base.
That brought up Topping, who skied a ball to left field, just enough to
allow Oaks to tag and score the winning run.
The Golden Bears drew first blood in the fourth when Jessica Pamanian
was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs with a 3-2 count
on the scoreboard.
Cal State Fullerton answered back in the fourth as Amanda Hockett reached
on a fielder's choice and no throw was made to any base as pinch runner
Heather Saltarelli scored to knot the game at 1-1 and, eventually, send
the game into extra innings.
Junior Jodie Cox pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits,
but walking five Cal batters. Oaks (7-2) picked up the win in relief,
allowing just three hits and striking out three.
Cassie Bobrow was solid for the Golden Bears, allowing one run on two
hits and striking out two, but it was Jocelyn Forest (6-4) who put up
big numbers despite the victory, allowing just one hit and striking out
eight Titan batters.
In the first inning, California first baseman Veronica Nelson set a new
NCAA record for career walks with 212, surpassing the mark set by Oregon
State's Tarrah Beyster (1997-2000). Nelson was 0-for-2 with two walks
on the day.
Cal State Fullerton closes out the tournament on Sunday with a pair of
contests. The Titans open the day's play with a game against No. 11 Oregon
State at 9 a.m. before facing Oklahoma State at 3 p.m.
