April 28, 2007
Cal State Fullerton 3, UC Davis 0 (Game 1)
Cal State Fullerton 3, UC Davis 1 (Game 2 - 13 inn.)
DAVIS, Calif. -- In a doubleheader not lacking in drama, Cal State Fullerton eventually swept UC Davis Saturday afternoon to start a three-game series at La Rue Field. In the first game, the Titans' Candice Baker came within one strike of a no-hitter before settling for a one-hitter in a 3-0 victory. It took three hours and 32 minutes and a total of 395 pitches to decide the second game as Cal State Fullerton scored two runs in the 13th inning to defeat UC Davis, 3-1. Aggie starter Jessica Hancock allowed just one hit through the first 11 innings of the battle. The wins improve CSF to 29-18 on the year while the Aggies fall to 28-22-1.
The difference in the first game came down to a pair of doubles for the Titans, two of the three hits they managed against Lindsay Tognetti. In the first inning, Ashley Van Boxmeer drew a two-out walk and scored on a double by Lauren Lupinetti to give CSF a 1-0 lead.
The score would remain that way until the fifth when the Titans put two runners on via walks. With one out, Jessica Doucette delivered a two-run double to give Cal State Fullerton a 3-0 lead.
As it turned out, that would be more than enough for Baker, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. She scattered five walks throughout the game and had her no-hitter broken up with two outs when Sarah O'Neill lifted a single down the right field line on a 1-2 pitch.
In the second game, it looked as if Hancock would have the same kind of success as Baker as she took a no-hitter into the sixth. With one out in the sixth, Doucette doubled to right center and later scored on a throwing error to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Julie Stauder led off with a triple and scored the tying run a sacrifice fly Deanna Menapace. As it turned out, the game would go scoreless for another six innings.
CSF's Brooke Weekley was equally impressive in the circle, allowing just two hits in the final six innings of her complete game. After the 7th, neither team had a hit until the 12th inning. That's when Van Boxmeer led off with a single but was later erased on a double play.
In the 13th, the Titans finally broke through with two runs on three hits. Lupinetti drove in the go-ahead run with a one-out single, and Katie Gollhardt later made it 3-1 with a two-out RBI-single.
Both starters nearly reached the 200-pitch plateau. Hancock threw 194 pitches before being relieved by Lauren Pieretti in the 12th. Weekley went the distance with 199 pitches.
"(Jessica) gave everything," said UC Davis head coach Karen Matteson-Yoder. "Physically, mentally, she gave it all today, and that's all I can ask of her. I'm so proud of her effort."
Hancock was charged with the loss despite going 12.2 innings with 13 strikeouts. One of the three runs she allowed was unearned.
UC Davis outhit Cal State Fullerton, 8-5, in the second game. Stauder and O'Neill each had two hits. O'Neill finished the day 3-for-7.
The two teams conclude the series Sunday with the final game scheduled for 12 p.m.
