Fullerton Stops Canisius Softball, 8-0
MAAC Sports
Columbus, Ohio -- Cal State Fullerton first baseman Katie Gollheart went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and a run scored to help lead the Titans (35-21) to an 8-0 win over Canisius College in five innings in the 2007 NCAA Softball Tournament at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio. The loss ends the Golden Griffins' season at 27-21 overall, while Cal State Fullerton advances to the loser's bracket final where it will meet No. 13 Virginia Tech.
Canisius junior Katie Miranto was the only Griff to record a hit in the loss. The North Tonawanda, N.Y., native dropped a drag bunt down the third base line and beat the throw to serve as the Blue and Gold's only base runner for the game. Fullerton starter Candice Baker improved to 18-12 in the circle after she allowed just one hit in four innings while fanning three. She was lifted in the fifth for reliever Brooke Weekley, who retired Canisius in order in the top of the fifth to close out the game early thanks to the NCAA eight-run rule.
The Titans jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Lauren Lupinetti raced home from third base on a wild pitch by Canisius starter Courtney Piar. Fullerton added three runs in the home half of the third after Gollheart drove a Piar offering over the fence in right center with two outs. The homer was her fifth of the season and gave the Titans a 4-0 lead after three frames of play.
In the fourth inning, Jessica Doucette drove in two runs with an RBI-single to right, and she later came around to score on an infield base hit by teammate Kiki Munoz. The Titans registered six hits on the day and took advantage of seven walks by the Canisius pitching staff.
"It's frustrating the way we played the last two days, but no one can take anything away from this team," Canisius head coach Mike Rappl said. "We earned the right to be here by winning the MAAC championship and there's 260-some teams that would give anything for the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. It stings now, but when these players look back on this experience, they'll understand they were part of something special."
Piar took the loss in her final collegiate start to close out her senior season with a record of 12-6. She went three innings where she allowed four runs on four hits while striking out four and walking three. Lindsay Garbacz faced six batters in a third of an inning and allowed four runs on a hit while walking four before giving way to sophomore Juliette Bowers, who gave up a hit and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning.
Game Notes: Canisius is now 0-2 all-time against Cal State Fullerton... The Griffs fell to 2-14 all-time against member schools from the Big West Conference... Katie Miranto closed out the season with a team-best .371 batting average, while setting a new school record for runs scored in a season with 44.