Cypress Walks-Off San Joaquin Delta, Faces Fullerton in Championship
SARATOGA, CA — The Cypress College Chargers earned a spot in tomorrow's 3C2A Softball State Championship game in style.
Julia Doan played the hero for the second game in a row, this time in the form of a hot shot hit through the left side to score Mikala Jacobsen and give the Chargers a 3-2 walkoff win over San Joaquin Delta.
The win keeps the Chargers' bid to repeat as champions alive. It also sets up an all Southern California and all Orange Empire Conference matchup. Cypress College and the Fullerton College Hornets play at noon tomorrow at West Valley College. The Hornets, still undefeated in this week's tournament, need just one win to claim the title. If the Chargers win in the noon game, the squads will face off in a winner-take-all showdown at 3 p.m.
Fullerton and Cypress have met three times this season and the Hornets have won each matchup with scores of 5-1, 4-0, and 7-6 (8 innings).
San Joaquin Delta ends their season at 40-6.
POSTGAME: Julia Doan, walk-off double and HC Brad Pickler pic.twitter.com/iS0g6SNIKu
— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 19, 2024
The Chargers took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Jaylene Duarte singled in Nanea Kyle. After a three up, three down sixth inning, and two outs in the top of the seventh, Cypress seemed ready to take a win without needing their turn at bat.
But the Mustangs had other plans. Hailey Kobler reached base with an infield single and Cheyenne Torrez drew a walk to move her into scoring position. That brought Caitlynn Campbell to the plate who answered with a single up the middle to score Kobler and tie the game 2-2.
Jacobsen led off the bottom half of the inning with a single to right. That set up Doan whose hard shot sent Jacobsen barreling around the bases and home for the win.
Kaitlyn Reynolds continued her outstanding showing in the circle. She pitched a complete game to earn her 40th win of the season. She stuck out two with six this and two walks.
Doan finished with three hits including two doubles. Kimberley MacPherson added two hits.
Ariel Nava struck out two in her start for Delta.