Entering the 2010 season, the Cal State Stanislaus softball team didn't imagine things would end like this, considering the Warriors' recent success in the postseason. But it did.
The Warriors concluded the season Saturday in Chico, where they were swept 1-0 and 9-1 by Chico State in front of an announced crowd of 525, most of them rooting for a Wildcats team that needed wins to earn the fourth and final seed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament this weekend in Stockton.
The Warriors finished the season 8-28 in CCAA and 13-36-1 overall, which is uncharacteristic for a team that had much success in the past few seasons. Three years ago, the Warriors reached the national tournament. That run was followed by a 2009 season that saw Stanislaus reach the Super Regionals.
On Saturday, Jennifer Arnold tossed a three-hitter and gave up the first game's lone run in the sixth inning after Chico State's Jenna Wermes had an RBI-double. In the following game, the Wildcats scored seven runs in the first inning, more than enough to hold on for the crucial win.
Warriors baseball falters before final stretch of season
With 22 hits and a stellar showing from senior pitcher Jarett Attard, who took a perfect game through eight innings, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos closed out a four-game set against Cal State Stanislaus with a 17-5 pounding in Pomona on Sunday afternoon.
The Warriors won their first three games against the Broncos before Sunday's stumble to own a 22-23 overall record and 18-18 in the CCAA. Stanislaus will close out the season with a four-game series against Cal State Dominguez Hills starting Friday in Carson at 3 p.m.
After that, the Warriors have a doubleheader on Saturday before Sunday's season finale, with all the games starting at noon. Stanislaus is in fifth place in the CCAA standings, but the fourth-place team, Chico State, has secured the final spot in the conference tournament.
Several Stanislaus track athletes finish in top 10
A number of Cal State Stanislaus track and field student-athletes were among top 10 finishers in their respective events at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational at Cal on Saturday.
Competing among Division I athletes, the Warriors got solid finishes from Jeni Cunha in the shot put, Terry Gross in the 400-meter dash and Luther Bell in the triple jump.
Cunha was sixth in the shot put with her best toss on the day of 41 feet, 1/4 inches. Gross clocked 48.92 seconds to place eighth in the 400-meter dash. Then, Bell leaped 41-9 1/4 in the triple jump for 10th.
The Warriors were entered in the University/Open Division of the meet, held at Cal's Edwards Stadium and Goldman Field. Division I teams competing in the event includes Arizona, Stanford, New Mexico State, Washington, and UC Davis, to name a few.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail at csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.