Three Softball Clubs Gain Inclusion to 2009 NCAA Tournament

Files associated with this release:
2009_SoftballRelease_15.pdf

Cal Poly's Anna Cahn

Cal State Fullerton's Francesca Gonzales

Long Beach State's Brooke Turner

The Big West extended its multi-bid streak to 25 in softball as three teams nabbed bids to the NCAA Tournament. Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State will join 61 others in the chase for the national championship beginning this weekend.

The 64-team field is broken up into 16 regionals with four teams at each site. Using a double-elimination format, the advancing teams will be slotted in eight sites for the Super Regional round where they will play a best-of-three series. From there, the eight remaining clubs head to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series beginning May 28. The WCWS is double-elimination until the final two teams standing play a best-of-three series to decide the national champion.

Cal Poly (39-10, 18-3 Big West) claimed the Big West automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament after winning the conference title for the second time in three years. The Mustangs were placed in the Stanford Regional along with Nevada (39-17, 15-5 WAC), Portland State (29-24, 15-5 PCSC) and the host #8 national seed Cardinal (44-9, 16-5 Pac-10). The schedule calls for Cal Poly to play the Wolfpack Friday, with the Vikings and Cardinal to follow. The Mustangs are an excellent offensive bunch, hitting .304 with 234 runs scored, 31 homers and 208 RBI. Senior Melissa Pura is one of the top offensive threats for Cal Poly, hitting .379 with seven homers, 31 RBI, nine doubles and 32 runs scored, while junior Krysten Cary has had a breakout season with a .273 batting average, 14 homers, 38 RBI and 30 runs scored. In the circle, The Mustangs are led by sophomore Anna Cahn in the circle as she has gone an incredible 27-5 with a 1.171 ERA in 232.2 innings. She has also struck out 101, posted 27 complete games, three shutouts, two saves and walked just 31. Junior Helen Pena has also been reliable in 2009 with an 11-5 record, 1.49 ERA, four shutouts and 74 strikeouts in 103.1 innings.

Cal State Fullerton (29-19, 17-4 Big West) garnered at-large status into the NCAA Tournament, its 10th appearance in the past 11 seasons and the 27th showing in the postseason in program history. One of the hotter teams in the country with 24 wins in their last 31 games, the Titans were slotted in the Tempe Regional along with LSU (32-16-1, 15-10-1 SEC), San Diego State (33-18, 10-5 Mountain West) and host #10 national seed Arizona State (40-16, 10-11 Pac-10). CSF will battle the Tigers Friday in the first game, with the Aztec/Sun Devils game to follow. The first two games in the regional will be televised live on ESPNU. While the young Titans have batted only .245 as a team,  they have produced clutch offensive moments over the last month and a half. Senior Courtney Martinez is the club’s leading hitter at .323 to go along with seven doubles and 20 runs scored, while juco transfer Francesca Gonzales has been spectacular with a .315 batting average, 10 homers and 24 RBI. Sophomore Torrie Anderson has also been a solid offensive performer to the tune of a .279 average, 10 home runs and a team-leading 34 RBI. Sophomore Ari Cervantes has been Cal State Fullerton's top performer in the circle, going 19-10 with a 2.15 ERA in 208.2 innings. She has also picked up three saves, 26 complete games, shut out five opponents and struck out 117 batters. Redshirt freshman Krystal Heinle has been impressive in her first season of competition, going 10-7 with a 2.75 ERA, one shutout, 12 complete games and 91 strikeouts in 119.2 innings.

Long Beach State (34-19, 15-6 Big West), the 2008 Big West champion, is in the postseason for the second time in three seasons under Kim Sowder. LBSU gained at-large status into the postseason and was placed in the Los Angeles Regional along with Fresno State (36-18, 15-5 WAC), UNLV (31-19, 7-8 Mountain West) and #2 national seed and host UCLA (41-9, 16-5 Pac-10). The 49ers will open the tournament against the Bruins Friday, with the Bulldogs and Runnin’ Rebels to battle in prior to that game. Long Beach State is lead offensively by senior Jennifer Griffin who is batting .329 with eight homers and 40 RBI, while classmate Danielle Linke leads the team in hitting at .353 to go along with seven homers, 26 RBI, 60 hits, 13 doubles and two triples. The 49ers have a two-headed monster in the circle with sophomore Brooke Turner and freshman Taylor Petty. Turner has turned in another stellar season with a 17-11 record, 2.34 ERA, 145 strikeouts, 21 complete games and six shutouts over 170.2 innings. Petty has been a revelation in her first collegiate season, going 15-4 with a 1.41 ERA in 144.1 innings. She has also posted four shutouts, 15 complete games and has struck out 129 hitters.