May 7, 2006
San Luis Obispo, Calif. -
Katie Gollhardt tripled home the go-ahead run and Candice Baker went the distance Sunday afternoon as Cal State Fullerton won the crucial rubber game of its three-game Big West Conference softball series at Cal Poly SLO with a come-from-behind 4-2 decision.
The win improved the Titans' overall record to 33-22 and its Big West mark to 11-4 for a first-place tie with Long Beach State. Cal Poly dropped two games behind the Titans at 9-6 in the Big West and 25-22 overall.
Baker gave up a two-run home run to Sarah Iwata in the first inning but blanked the Mustangs the rest of the way for a 4-hitter while striking out five and walking none.
Amanda Kamekona's double keyed a 2-run third inning to tie the game and Gollhardt tripled home Baker to make it 3-2 in the fifth. Ashlee Weatherford added an insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth.
Fullerton wraps up the regular season this weekend at home with a Friday doubleheader and a Saturday single game with UC Riverside. Long Bech State plays a 3-game series at UC Santa Barbara. In the event of a head-to-head tie, Fullerton owns the tie-breaker for an automatic NCAA berth by virtue of winning the season's series against the 49ers, 2-1. On Sunday, the Titans will await word on an NCAA Regional berth announcement.