Community College Softball : Fullerton Loses Title Game, 2-0

Cami Allen pitched a four-hitter and Palomar College took advantage of a key Fullerton error in the sixth to score both its runs en route to winning the state community college softball championship, 2-0, Sunday at Golden West College.

Earlier Sunday, Fullerton’s Kristin Jacobs pitched a four-hitter to hand Palomar its first defeat of the double-elimination tournament, 2-0, and force the second game.

Palomar (39-6) opened the bottom of the sixth of the second game with singles by Christie Westerlund and Kenda Leffler. Palomar got a big break one out later when left fielder Dena Oburn dropped a soft line drive by Allen to load the bases.

Westerlund, who went to third on Oburn’s error, scored on Jodi Williams’ infield out. Leffler scored on Jessica Camacho’s single.

Fullerton (39-12) threatened against Allen (28-5) in the seventh when, with one out, Pita Licon walked and Christy Richmond and Debbie Wagner singled to load the bases. But Kelly Hilliard hit into a double play.

“I felt we could hit against them, but we made too many mistakes,” said Fullerton Coach Margo Davis, who is retiring after 31 years at the school. “You can’t let a good team off the hook the way we did today.”

Jacobs (35-9), who had 19 consecutive scoreless innings before Palomar scored, scattered six hits in the loss.

In the first game, Jacobs gave Fullerton a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Debbie Wagner, who doubled and moved to third on Hilliard’s sacrifice to start the fifth, scored Fullerton’s second run on a bunt by Kelli Johnson.