Antelopes knock off UC San Diego, reach Gold quarters

Softball

3-29-08

Antelopes knock off UC San Diego, reach Gold quarters

Prior to the Antelopes' departure for Northern California, first baseman Randi Johns said Grand Canyon needed to win at the elite Mizuno Tournament of Champions to have any shot at the postseason.

Saturday, Grand Canyon got its third win over a California Collegiate Athletic Association opponent, beating UC San Diego 6-1 in the final game of pool play of the tournament hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. It was the Antelopes' first win over the Tritons in three meetings between the two schools this season.

GCU (15-15-1) blitzed UCSD (24-12) with five runs in the third inning to take a five-run lead that held up the rest of the way. Jamie Stacy had a two-run single, and Yasmeen Watkins cranked a three-run homer to left-center. It was Watkins' third home run of the tournament and sixth of the season. She went 1 for 3.

GCU did all of its damage in the third with two outs.

The Antelopes, which advanced to the Gold Bracket quarterfinals to play Cal State Dominguez Hills at 11;15 a.m. Sunday, bounced back from a 7-2 loss to St. Martin's University and 3-0 setback to Cal State Monterey Bay following wins over Cal State San Bernardino and Stanislaus.

Johns' RBI single to center in the first put GCU up 1-0.

Johns went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Stacy was 1 for 3 with two RBI. Tana Holtorf (pictured) was 2 for 3 with a double. It was her sixth multi-hit game of the year. Watkins has a team-best nine multi-RBI games.

Winning pitcher Michelle Farrell (8-6) held the Tritons to four hits, while walking two and striking out four. She also went 1 for 4 and scored twice.

GCU outhit UCSD 9-4.

UCSD starter Christine Zankich (4-2) went 2 2/3 innings, allowing all six runs on six hits and a walk in the loss.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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