PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Fullerton Wins a Wild One Over Kennedy

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Fullerton’s Angie Fancuberta swung at a ball in the dirt and missed. But Kennedy’s players weren’t the ones celebrating the victory.

The pitch got past Kennedy catcher Kelly Bunker and Fullerton’s Kiki McAulay slid home ahead of the throw, scoring the winning run in the Indians’ 1-0 victory Tuesday at Fullerton High School.

Fancuberta (6-3) won her third no-hitter of the season because of aggressive pitching, good defense and a few well-timed gusts of wind. At least four Kennedy line drives were reduced to easy fly-ball outs.

“We were fortunate with the wind,” Fullerton Coach Scott Weber said. “It made things tough for all the fielders.”

Fancuberta walked five and struck out six for Fullerton (7-4), allowing only three Kennedy runners to reach second base.

“Angie pitches her best against the better teams,” Weber said. “She always comes through in the clutch.”

McAulay had the game’s only two hits, an infield single in the first inning and a bunt single in the ninth.

With one out and runners on second and third, Deborah Hargrave was intentionally walked, setting up Fancuberta’s at-bat.

Lisa Pitt pitched 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief and struck out eight for Kennedy (2-6), off to a slow start after being ranked fourth in preseason polls.