Cal State Fullerton senior Lindsey Bashor went 2-for-3 with a grand slam
and Brooke Weekley allowed just one hit in four innings of relief to earn
her seventh victory of the season as the Titans swept a three-game series
from Cal State Northridge with an 8-3 win on Sunday afternoon at the Titan
Softball Complex.
Fullerton finishes the regular season with a 28-19 overall record, a 14-7
mark in the Big West Conference, and a nine-game winning streak heading
into possible postseason play. Northridge finishes its season with a 16-23
overall record and a 5-16 mark in league play.
Weekly (7-4) tossed four innings, allowing only a single to Heather Martin
in the seventh, walking one and striking out three to earn her second
victory of the series. Marissa Marzan got a no-decision, allowing two
earned runs on four hits, walking one and striking out three in three
innings of work.
Erin Sigala (6-13) was stuck with the loss, allowing seven earned runs
on eight hits, walking four and striking out three in 2 2/3 innings of
work. Kia Fennell pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing a run on three
hits, walking three and striking out four.
After trailing early in the series' first two games, it was the Matadors'
turn to jump out early in game three, plating an unearned run in the second
inning after a one-out walk to Erin Sigala and an RBI single by Kelly
Zakosek for the quick 1-0 lead.
The Titans bounced right back, scoring their first run of the game in
their half of the second inning as Kiki Munoz led off the inning with
a full-count walk and was pinch-run for by Molly Perez.
Perez moved all the way to third on Marissa Marzan's single and eventually
scored on Crystal Vieyra's deep fly ball to centerfield to tie the score.
Fullerton then broke open a close game in the third, plating six runs
and sending 10 batters to the plate. A two-run RBI single by Marissa Marzan,
who fought off 14 pitches before looping No. 15 into right field, broke
the tie and Bashor's second grand slam of the series (and eighth home
run of the season) put the game out of reach, making it 7-1.
The Matadors weren't done, however, as they loaded the bases against Marzan
in the fourth and scored their first run of the inning on an RBI single
by Aubrey Fast to make it 7-2. Weekley then relieved Marzan to face Zakosek,
who lined a shot to deep right field that was caught by the Titans' Monica
Tantlinger, but was enough to score pinch runner Darcy Hillstrom and make
it 7-3.
Cal State Northridge again loaded the bases two batters later as Jenny
Cochran was hit by a pitch with a two outs to bring up Jan Moshier, who
reentered the game after leaving the game in the bottom of the third after
landing awkwardly on her shoulder on a diving attempt to catch a foul
ball. Weekley worked out of the jam by striking out Moshier on four pitches
to end the inning.
The Titans capped the scoring in the sixth as Van Boxmeered off the sixth
inning with her eight home run of the season, clearing the left field
fence to make it 8-3.
Weekley nailed down the win in the seventh, allowing Martin's leadoff
single and a two-out walk to Janine Grund, but stranded both runners on
base when she got Fennell to strikeout looking to end the game.
Cal State Fullerton now awaits the decision of the NCAA Tournament selection
committee, which will announce the field of 64 teams vying for the national
championship on Sunday afternoon (May 15) between 4:30-5 p.m. on ESPNEWS.
Check your local listings for stations.
Regional play begins on Friday (May 20) and runs through Sunday (May 22)
at various campus sites around the country to be determined. The winners
of the 16 regionals will then pair off for a super regional round which
runs from May 27-28 to determine the eight teams which will compete at
the Women's College World Series on June 2-8 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
