NCAA Far West Region Softball Championship:
San Francisco State Wins Twice, Forces a Second Title Game Sunday
Gators ride arm of "Termi-Gator" Garnett to beat MSUB, CSUC
May 14, 2005

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No. 4-seeded San Francisco State used starter Sonja Garnett’s arm and a 4-run 6th inning to blank Montana State Billings, 4-0, at the 2005 NCAA II Far West Regional, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills. In the later Saturday game, the Gators rode their momentum from Game 9’s win to topple previously unbeaten Chico State, 3-2, forcing a final title game Sunday.

San Francisco State 4, Montana State Billings 0

San Francisco State 3, Chico State 2

San Francisco State 4, Montana State Billings 0 Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--(May 14, 2005)--No. 4 seeded San Francisco State (39-19) used starter Sonja Garnett’s arm and a 4-run 6th inning to blank Montana State Billings, 4-0, and advance to Game 10 of the 2005 NCAA II Far West Regional, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Gators broke open a scoreless game in the 5th inning, sending eight batters to the plate and capitalizing on two MSUB errors (36-14). Nichole Ramirez began the rally with a leadoff double, and after a MSUB throwing error allowed Mary Cunnie to reach base, a Garnett single to bring home the game’s first run gave SFSU all the momentum they would need in taking a 1-0 lead. A Jordanna Freemer single with the bases loaded, coupled with a Yellowjacket throwing error, cleared the bases for the Gators, all but deflating MSUB’s will.

Garnett finished strong, retiring the final six batters to earn the win (28-8), while MSUB’s Joey Ehnes tossed six innings, allowing only two earned runs, while collecting one of the Jacket hits in the loss (29-11).

SFSU next faces the No. 6 seed, Chico State, in the afternoon game, needing a win to force a “winner-take-all” contest on Sunday afternoon.

San Francisco State 3, Chico State 2 Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--(May 14, 2005)--San Francisco State (40-19) rode its momentum from Game 9’s win to topple previously unbeaten Chico State, 3-2, in Game 10 of the 2005 NCAA Far West Softball Regional, hosted by Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The No. 6 seeded Wildcats started quickly, as starting pitcher Katie Stokx’s sacrifice fly brought home leadoff hitter Megan Farnham with the game’s first run after Farnham began the contest with a single up the middle.

San Francisco State, however, would answer in their 3rd-inning at-bat by scoring three runs, capitalizing on a costly CSUC error.After Vanessa Rodrique and Nicole Hartfield knocked consecutive singles with two out, a Jordana Freemer base on balls loaded the bases for Chrissy Hildebrant, who reached on a Wildcat fielding error to bring home the Gators’ first run of the game. Kristin Bartholomay next stepped up and promptly hammered a double down the left field line, bringing home Hartfield and Freemer with what proved to be the winning runs.

Garnett, solidifying her reputation as the “Termi-Gator,” held Chico State (33-15) at bay until its final at-bat when a Farnham fielder’s choice brought home Jenny Chacon for the Wildcats’ second run. Garnett, however, fanned Nickie Jarrett and induced Allie Shirley to line out to left field for the final two outs of the game, forcing Game 11 on Sunday afternoon.

Garnett fanned four Wildcats to pick up her 4th win of the tournament (29-8), while Stokx suffered her first defeat in four games this weekend (14-8).

The two teams again match up at high noon on Sunday, with the winner advancing to represent the Far West Region at the 24th Annual Division II Softball Championships to be held May 19-23, at the James I Moyer Softball Complex in Salem, Virginia.