Tournament of Champions Coverage (results, stats, schedules)

TURLOCK — Western Oregon had a tall pitcher that defeated the Warriors in the West Region tournament last year. Today, in a gold bracket quarterfinal game, the Wolves did it again with another strong performance by a tall pitcher.

WOU's Jessica Wood struck out 14 batters and gave up three runs on five hits as the Wolves cooled off the hottest team in the tournament with a 4-3 win at the Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno. The loss ended the Warriors' run in its own 20-team tournament. However, with a strong week where Stanislaus went 8-2, the Warriors improved to 24-12 on the season.

Wood baffled the Stanislaus hitters in the first five innings, recording 12 strikeouts -- including the first seven outs recorded in the game. By the end of the fourth, Western Oregon (15-14) was ahead 4-0 — two runs came in the second inning on a two-run homer by WOU shortstop Tyler Sutherland.

CSUS had a great chance to get on the board in the fifth when Alyssa Guzman tripled to lead off the inning. However, Wood got a pop-out and two strikeouts to end the inning.

The Warriors finally put together a rally in the sixth inning after an one-out walk. three consecutive singles by Jennifer Arnold, Britney Borba and Kimiko Wright to score two runs. The third run -- Borba -- scored on a passed ball to cut the WOU lead to 4-3. With a runner on second base and just one out, Wood got a grounder and another strikeout to end the Stanislaus inning.

In the seventh, the Warriors got leadoff batter Erica McIntyre on base when she was hit by a pitch. An unsuccessful bunt play, a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the game as the Warriors came up short.

Wood finished with three runs allowed on five hits, 14 strikeouts and walked three to improve to 8-3.

Starting pitcher Jennifer Arnold (9-5) picked up the loss but still went 3-1 during the weekend. Jessica Gaumnitz came in in the fourth inning and threw 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit to keep the game close for the Warriors.

Cal State Stanislaus players were swinging the hot bats entering Sunday's play, batting .343 with 13 extra base hits in five tournament games.

For the week, trying to position itself among the top teams in the West Region, Cal State Stanislaus went 8-2 for the week with quality wins over Hawaii Pacific and Dixie State and was 5-0 after pool play in the tournament.

The Warriors will return to California Collegiate Athletic Association play next weekend with a four-game set against defending national champion Humboldt State in Arcata.

Tournament of Champions presented by Mizuno

Pedretti Park
Gold Bracket
Hawaii Pacific 8, Cal State Monterey Bay 4
Western Oregon 4, Cal State Stanislaus 3
Cal State Dominguez Hills 1, Dixie State 0
Western Washington 4, Cal State San Bernardino 2 (8 inn)
Hawaii Pacific 6, Western Oregon 4
Cal State Dominguez Hills 4, Western Washington 3
Championship: Hawaii Pacific 5, Cal State Dominguez Hills 3

Silver Bracket
Grand Canyon 10, Chico State 5
Saint Martin's 2, Humboldt State 1
San Francisco State 7, Notre Dame de Namur 0
Central Washington 2, Sonoma State 1 (8 inn)
Grand Canyon 13, Saint Martin's 0 (5 inn)
Central Washington 3, San Francisco State 2
Grand Canyon 5, Central Washington 2

Warrior Field
Bronze Bracket
Hawaii Hilo 9, Chaminade 5 (8 inn)
UC San Diego 10, Hawaii Hilo 2 (6 inn)