College Softball World Series : Fullerton Wins Twice, Only 1 Game From Title

Cal State Fullerton remained the only undefeated team and advanced to the finals of the College Softball World Series Saturday with victories over Texas A&M;, 3-0, and Indiana, 3-1, in Omaha, Neb.

Only Texas A&M; stands between the Titans and their first NCAA softball championship. Fullerton (56-9-1) needs to beat A&M; just once to clinch the title of the double-elimination tournament. The teams will meet today at 11:30 a.m. and, if necessary, 1:30 p.m.

The Titans have made their way to the finals on the strength of pitchers Connie Clark and Susan LeFebvre, who combined to allow only two hits Saturday. They have given up one run the entire series.

Clark pitched a no-hitter against the Aggies for the second time this season, and All-American Chenita Rogers collected three hits and two RBIs.

Clark (19-2) struck out seven in her second victory of the series while facing just 22 batters, one over the minimum for a seven-inning game.

The Titans’ Michelle Gromacki scored in the third inning when Rogers beat out a roller to the pitcher. Gromacki reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Valerie Van Kirk and a passed ball by Aggie catcher Carrie Heithley.

In the fifth inning, Robin Goodin singled to right with one out and Gromacki followed with a double-play ball to shortstop Liz Mizera, but both runners were safe when Aggie second baseman Judy Trussell dropped Mizera’s toss. Van Kirk sacrificed the runners to second and third, then Rogers singled to left, scoring Goodin and sending Gromacki to third. Charis Monroe’s base hit up the middle scored Gromacki to give the Titans the victory.

In the second game, Gromacki’s leadoff triple in the eighth inning was the key hit as the Titans scored two runs to eliminate Indiana.

With Gromacki on third, Rogers put down a sacrifice bunt that Hoosier third baseman Pam Lee threw past first, scoring Gromacki, with Rogers taking second. Monroe sacrificed Rogers to third and Alani Silva’s RBI single gave the Titans a 3-1 lead.

The Hoosiers got a runner to second in the bottom of the eighth but LeFebvre got Pam Craig to ground out.

“It’s great to have two starting pitchers like we have,” Fullerton Coach Judi Garman said. “But the nice thing now is that everybody’s contributing.”

Garman said Clark will start against the Aggies today. “She’s faced them twice and no-hit them twice,” she said. “I hope she can keep it up against them Sunday.”

In other College World Series action:

Indiana 2, Cal State Long Beach 0--Tammy Connor and Caroline Berger scored in the 10th inning as Indiana eliminated Cal State Long Beach.

The Hoosiers’ All-American pitcher, Amy Unterbrink (33-12), held Long Beach to three hits after relieving starter Roxie Rafik in the third inning.

Pitcher Sandy Winchester (20-6) took the loss for the 49ers (39-18), who finished the season tied for fifth in the nation with Creighton.