No. 19 San Francisco State Spoils “Senior Day” in 7-0 & 4-2 Sweep of No. 6 Toros Softball
CSUDH’s hopes for CCAA title all but dashed, trails CS Bakersfield by 3 full games with 4 remaining
April 29, 2006

Complete Box Scores
Game 1           Game 2

Carson, CA – San Francisco State senior Sonja Garnett showed why she is the reigning CCAA Pitcher of the Year and returning 1st-Team All-American, shutting down the high-powered Toro offense this afternoon by 7-0 and 4-2 counts, and spoiling “Senior Day” as CSUDH honored eight seniors playing in their final regular season home games. With the losses, CSUDH falls to 38-9, 17-7 CCAA, and now trails CCAA-leading Cal State Bakersfield by three full games after the ‘Runners swept visiting Sonoma State earlier in the day. SFSU, meanwhile, improves to 26-14, 16-8 CCAA.

The Toros' seniors pose with their families on Senior Day at the Toro Diamond. Photo by Michael Foo

After cruising through the first three innings of the opener in which she fanned 7-consecutive batters, CSUDH starter Jackie Miller (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS/CS Stanislaus) ran into trouble in the 4th as Jordanna Freemer stepped to the plate with two runners on, and blasted an 0-2 letter-high pitch deep over the left center field fence for a Gator 3-0 lead. After Kristin Bartholomay followed with a single to left, Nicole Cirimele extended the SFSU lead to 5-0 one batter later with a 2-run blast over the right field fence.

Garnett took care of the rest, scattering three hits and fanning seven en route to her 25th win of the year (25-6). In what began as a pitcher’s duel, Miller took the loss (17-6), allowing all seven runs, including three home runs.

In the nightcap, SFSU scored twice in the 1st and once in the 3rd off Toro starter Amy Thomas (Barstow, CA/Barstow HS), using a fielder’s choice and Toro throwing error for their first two runs, and a Bartholomay RBI single for a 3-0 lead. The Toros would answer in their 4th inning at-bat as Miller sent a 1-1 Garnett pitch over the right-center field fence for the first runs the SFSU hurler would allow the Toros in four appearances, cutting the lead to 3-2 and giving CSUDH hopes of a comeback. SFSU would answer right back in the 5th, however, as Vanessa Rodrigue sent Thomas’ first pitch of the inning over the center field fence for a key insurance run.

CSUDH would have a final opportunity in its last at-bat as Lori Moreno (Los Angeles, CA/California HS) beat out an infield hit, but Garnett (26-6) induced Kate Groden (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS/SE Missouri Univ.), the Toros’ all-time career RBI leader, to hit a come-backer, putting a cap on CSUDH’s regular season home stand.

Thomas allowed just five hits and two earned runs in the loss (11-5), while Jen Wilson (Orange, CA/Bellflower HS/CS Fullerton) and Miller each tallied two hits to lead the Toros’ offense.

Freemer swung the big bat for SFSU, going 4-for-6 with 4 RBI on the afternoon, wile Cirimele and Bartholomay each drove in two runs in the sweep. With the two wins this afternoon, Garnett reached the 100-win mark for her career as she and Gators look to repeat as the Far West Champions when the NCAA post-season begins on May 11.

CSUDH honored seniors Natalie Greco (Downey, CA/Warren HS), Groden, Miller, Moreno, Cindy Perry-Brown (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS), Pebbel Prestwood (Hesperia, CA/Sultana HS/CS Stanislaus), Linda Reyes (Garden Grove, CA/Pacifica HS/St. John’s) and Wilson in a pre-game ceremony, before all eight seniors ran a final lap around the Toro Diamond bases to close the afternoon in a fitting tribute to eight wonderful careers in Cardinal & Gold.

The Toros conclude their regular season next weekend, traveling to Sonoma State and Cal State Stanislaus on Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, respectively, and await their fate as the NCAA postseason seedings and host institution are revealed on Sunday, May 7.