March 17, 2007

Box Score

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton sophomore Courtney Martinez scored on a fifth-inning wild pitch to snap a 3-3 tie and the host Titans hung on for a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 24 Florida State to close out play at the 2007 Judi Garman Classic on Saturday night.

The win improved Fullerton's record to 15-13 overall, snapping a five-game losing streak, and gave the program its 1,200th victory in its 28th year. The Seminoles fell to 21-12 overall with the loss.

Trailing by two runs entering the fourth inning, the Titans rallied for a pair to tie the game as Ashley Van Boxmeer led off with an infield single and moved to second base on a base hit to left field.

Both runners moved up 60 feet on a double steal and came around to score as junior Katie Gollhardt's single to right was misplayed by the fielder, allowing enough time for Munoz to scamper home with the tying run and make it 3-3.

Fullerton went ahead for good in the fifth as Martinez led off the inning with a double to right centerfield, moved to third on a sacrifice by Van Boxmeer and scored when ball four to Munoz went wide to the backstop, plating Martinez with the go-ahead run.

The Titans then escaped a jam in the FSU half of the fifth, leaving the bases loaded as senior Candice Baker erased Whitney Buckmon at the plate trying to score on a ball to the backstop and snagged a lineshot back at her head off the bat of Brittany Osmon to end the inning.

The Seminoles also left the tying runs in scoring position in the sixth after a leadoff double by Jessica Gilmore and in the seventh after a lead-off single by Buckmon and a sacrifice by Brittany Krbec.

Senior Brooke Weekley (3-3) was credited with the victory, pitching one inning in relief of starter Jessica Doucette, allowing one hit and walking two. Baker earned her second save of the year, striking out three and allowing two hits in three innings of relief.

Tiffany McDonald (7-8) suffered the loss, allowing a run on two hits and walking four in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Cal State Fullerton got on the board in the first as Jessica Doucette led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice, and scored on an infield single by Van Boxmeer, who finished 3-for-3, to make it 1-0.

Florida State answered back with three runs in the second, loading the bases with two outs and promptly clearing them on a three-run double off the bat of Buckmon, who finished 3-for-4, to make it 3-1.

Five other Titans had hits while Veronica Wootson finished 2-for-4 for Florida State.

Cal State Fullerton takes a short break before retaking the field on Wednesday (March 21) at 6 p.m. with a single game against Utah at Anderson Family Field.