DIVISION I SOFTBALL : Tessman Helps Foothill Beat Lompoc in Ninth

Foothill’s Robin Tessman didn’t have much success in her first three at-bats in the Knights’ 1-0 extra-inning victory over Lompoc in the Southern Section Division I semifinal Tuesday at Canyon High.

But after striking out, grounding out and reaching base on a fielder’s choice, Tessman helped win the game despite never putting the ball in play.

With runners on the corners and none out in the ninth, Tessman fouled off the first six pitches she saw from Brave starter Kim Wuest. The seventh pitch landed in the dirt, bouncing past Lompoc catcher Becky Hunter, allowing Michelle Churnock to score the winning run. The Knights advanced to the final against Marina (25-2) on Saturday night.

“One more pitch and I was going to die,” Tessman said. “All I had to do was battle, and I won the battle. (Wuest) broke first.”

The loss was a bitter end to an outstanding game for Wuest (18-2), a senior who struck out 15 and didn’t give up a hit until the seventh inning.

“I didn’t think we were going to get a thing against (Wuest),” Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez said. “We couldn’t stay off the high pitch. Our speed game helped us.

“Marie (Gieron) pitched one of her better games. Our defense wasn’t quite as strong as it has been for her.”

Gieron (12-4) gave up only one hit, a two-out single in the second inning, and retired 10 in a row at one point.

Lompoc couldn’t capitalize on its two scoring opportunities. Gieron forced two straight pop-outs with runners on second and third in the fourth inning, and struck out Colleen Mitchell with two on in the seventh.