NCAA Women’s Softball World Series : Fullerton Makes New Rule Pay Off for a Run and a Win

Top-ranked Cal State Fullerton won its opening-round game in the NCAA Division I Women’s Softball World Series Wednesday, defeating Adelphi University, 1-0, because it put Leslie King on second base with none out in the first extra inning of a scoreless tie, bunted her to third and came up with a clutch single.

King didn’t get a hit Wednesday night at Seymour Smith Park, but she was standing on second base before the first pitch of the eighth inning due to the newly installed International Tiebreaker rule. The rule puts the last hitter to bat in the previous inning on second base at the beginning of each extra inning after the regulation seven innings.

Fourth-ranked UCLA (37-8) didn’t need help from the rulemakers. The Bruins managed to push across a run in the fifth (on two singles, a walk and a throwing error) to score a 1-0 win over eighth-ranked Utah (37-12) in the nightcap of the double-elimination tournament. Fullerton (52-8) will meet UCLA tonight.

“We were lucky to have our fastest runner out there and the top of the order coming up in the eighth,” Fullerton Coach Judi Garman said. “I purposely didn’t hit-and-run or steal in the last few innings, hoping to set it up.”

Lisa Baker set down a perfect sacrifice bunt to get King to third, and JoAnn Ferrier drove her in with the Titans’ sixth hit off loser Julie Bolduc (24-11).

One run was all Debbie Mygind needed. The senior from Auckland, New Zealand, struck out 11, picked up her sixth one-hitter of the season and ran her record to 27-3.

Adelphi loaded the bases with one out in the first inning on an error, a single, a passed ball and an intentional walk, but Mygind got a force-out at the plate and a strikeout to end the threat.

Adelphi didn’t get another baserunner until the eighth (via the tiebreaker rule). Pinch runner Alena Scandura took third on a sacrifice but was out at the plate when Titan first baseman Robin Goodin made a good play on Michelle McLane’s two-strike squeeze bunt.

Softball Notes

Three Titans--senior pitcher Debbie Mygind, junior third baseman JoAnn Ferrier and junior outfielder Terri Oberg--were named to the NCAA Division I All-American team Wednesday. Cal Poly Pomona pitcher Rhonda Wheatley was also a first-team selection and the Broncos’ Alison Stowell (outfield) and Kandi Burke (first base) were second team picks. UCLA pitcher Debbie Doom was a second-team selection.