CSM edged 3-2 by Fullerton in State Championship quarterfinals

Story/photos courtesy 3C2A/3CFCA

SARATOGA, CA — The Fullerton College Hornets held on for a dramatic 3-2 win over the College of San Mateo to advance to Saturday's semifinals.

The Hornets will play the winner of San Joaquin Delta and Cypress tomorrow at noon. The Bulldogs now move to an elimination game and will play the winner between Mt. San Antonio and Cosumnes River College tonight at 8 p.m. Both games will be played at West Valley College.

With Fullerton leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh, San Mateo threatened with a ground-rule double that put Michelle Hara on third. But Allyson Fuentes forced the next batter to foul out and end the game.

The Fullerton pitching duo of Fuentes and starter Macy Brandl kept the Bulldogs' attack at bay. Brandl allowed just five hits in 5.2 innings of work to improve to 22-3. Fuentes finished the game to earn the save.

Haley Garcia and Alyssa Garcia led the Hornets offensively. Haley Garcia finished 3-3 and singled in a run in the third to put Fullerton up 2-0. Alyssa Garcia went 2-2 with a walk. She drove in Veronica Moore in the fifth with a single to left which proved to be the deciding run.

Jordan Elias added a run, hit, and RBI for the Hornets.

Megan Barstad led the Bulldogs with two hits and an RBI. Luda Gumataotao added an RBI triple in the fourth to briefly tie the game 2-2.