Palomar Advances to State Championship Game for 11th Time
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by Andrew Wheeler, CCCFCA Sports Information
Bakersfield, CA -- On the strength of a complete game six-hitter by Summer Evans (28-3), that held the State's top offense to one run, the Palomar College (40-3-1) Softball program advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association Softball State Championship Game for the 11th time in program history with a 5-1 win over College of San Mateo (41-1) in the semi-finals of the 2015 CCCAA State Softball Championships on Saturday afternoon.
The pitchers set the tone early in the semi-final game. San Mateo's 3CFCA State Pitcher of the Year Lauren Berriatua (27-1) gave up just a single to left field in the top of the first, while 3CFCA All-State selection Evans gave up just two hits early on, a double to the left-center gap by San Mateo's Harlee Donovan in the bottom of the first, and an infield single by Riley Wells in the bottom of the second.
That all changed in the top of the third. Palomar's Leah Gordon led the inning off with a walk. Pinch runner Randee Burkle moved to second on a sacrifice by Evans, but the Comets looked like their rally would fizzle when the next batter flied out to left-center. With first base open, the Bulldogs elected to give an intentional free pass to Kali Pugh and face Brooke Huddleson. The plan backfired as Huddleson ripped the third pitch of her at bat to the left field wall, scoring both Burkle and Pugh.
College of San Mateo had their own threat in the bottom half of the frame. Brittany Wilkerson got the Bulldogs off to a great start with a double to the right-center field wall. After a pop-up to short, Kayleen Smith moved Wilkerson to third with a single past third base. With runners on the corners, San Mateo loaded the bases up when Donovan drew a walk on four straight pitches. That brought Berriatua to the plate. Berriatua hit the ball hard, but right in the vicinity of Palomar short stop Pugh, who threw her out at first base for the second out, but allowed Wilkerson to score to put the Bulldogs on the board 2-1.
Palomar picked up where they left off in the third, by getting another run in the top of the fourth when the Comets' Stephanie Koisher cleared the left field fence to make it 3-1. San Mateo left a runner on base in the bottom half of the inning, while Palomar continued things in the top of the fifth.
The Comets used a bit of luck to get the fifth rolling, when Evans led off the inning by getting on via a Bulldogs error. Keilani Fronda followed that up by laying down a picture perfect bunt up the third base line that moved Evans to second and left herself on first. The duo would advance a base thanks to a wild pitch and a few moments later, Evans crossed home after a fielder's choice RBI by Pugh. The Comets weren't done yet as a single by Iesha Hill two at bats later, brought in Pugh and made it 5-1.
San Mateo would give it a go in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Melina Rodriguez and Kayleen Smith would hit back to back two-out singles. The inning ended two pitches later though when Donovan laced the ball back up the short stop side of the field where Pugh made a leaping snow cone grab to end the game.
With the loss, San Mateo will move into an elimination game later this evening at about 8:00 PM against the winner of Saturday's middle game between South #2 Cypress College (37-9) and North #2 Cosumnes River College (31-12-1). Palomar will wait for the winner of the night cap and take them on tomorrow at 12:00 PM.