The Canadian National Team began its week-long collegiate tour by sweeping
a pair of one-run contests from host Cal State Fullerton by the scores
of 1-0 and 6-5 on Monday night at the Titan Softball Complex in an exhibition
doubleheader.
The Titans open the 2004 regular season this weekend at the Arizona State
Fiesta Bowl Classic.
In game one, Canada's Kristy Odamura's run-scoring fielder's choice in
the top of the eighth was the game-winner in the 1-0 victory.
The pitching duo of Lauren Bay and Auburn Sigurdson held Fullerton's bats
to just one hit and struck out 11 batters. Freshman Candice Baker also
pitched well, allowing the unearned run in the eighth, scattering three
hits and striking out eight in the loss.
Senior Julie Watson had Fullerton's only hit, an infield single in the
third inning. The Titans stranded seven runners, including runners at
second four times and stranded a pair at third twice, including the eighth
inning.
Meaggan Wilton was placed on second base to start the eighth as per the
international tiebreaker. She moved to third on a passed ball and scored
on Odamura's grounder.
In game two, Cindy Eadie's two-out RBI single through the left side plated
Sasha Olson with the game-winning run and the Titans were set down in
order in the seventh as Canada completed the sweep with a 6-5 come-from-behind
victory.
The Titans fell behind early, 4-0, thanks to a double steal that plated
a run in the second and a three-run home run to left by Kim Sarrazin.
Fullerton got a run back in the third as Monica Tantlinger scored from
second base when teammate Melissa Hughes got hung up inbetween first and
second, giving Tantlinger enough time to scamper home and make it 4-1.
The Titans took the lead in the fourth on a pair of throwing errors, an
RBI groundout by Crystal Medina, and a run-scoring triple to right by
Jennifer Holt.
Canada responded with the tying run in the fifth as Sheena Lawrick scored
when Tamra Howren got hung up in a run down.
That set up the seventh inning dramatics as Olson reached on a fielder's
choice, moved to second on a wild pitch and beat Tantlinger's throw home
on Eadie's single for the winning run.
Kaila Holtz earned the win in relief, throwing 3 1/3 innings of one-hit
ball, walking one and striking out two. Baker, in her second appearance
of the night for the Titans, suffered the loss, allowing a pair of runs
on two hits, walking two and striking out six.
Tantlinger had two hits in game two as four other Titans also tallied
base knocks. Howren, Eadie and Rachel Schill each had two hits for Canada.
