2004 NCAA Division II Champions
ONE FOR THE AGES; A LOOK BACK AT THE 2004 CHAMPIONSHIP RUN
In 2004, Angelo State softball became one of the fastest teams to earn a national title in NCAA competition as the Rambelles claimed the national crown in only their third year of competition since the team’s reinstatement. Below is a game-by-game recap of ASU’s run for the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship.
Rambelles win opener, 2-1
A sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Stacy Broman drove in the winning run, as the Rambelles downed Shippensburg, 2-1, in the opening round.
Senior pitcher Claudia Lopez tossed a four-hit complete game as she struck out 12 Lady Raiders as ASU won its first-ever NCAA D-II World Series game. The contest was a scoreless battle until the top of the sixth inning, when Shippensburg capitalized on a base hit and a Rambelle error to take a 1-0 lead.
The Rambelles would rebound in the bottom of the inning as the top of the batting order responded to the call. Senior Alexis Wing reached on a single to shallow left field, stole second and was knocked in by a single one batter later by senior Michelle Hofmann. Hofmann advanced to third base on the single after an outfield error by the Lady Raiders and scored the go-ahead run later in the frame as a Broman deep fly brought her in.
Lopez would retire the Shippensburg side in order in the seventh, collecting one strike out and a pair of ground outs to ice the victory.
ASU defeats Florida Southern, 2-1
The Rambelles held on to a late lead while dealing with Mother Nature in their 2-1 win over Florida Southern in second-round action.
ASU struck first on a bases-loaded ground out by Diana Faulkner that brought in Arin Spence. The Rambelles’ inning ended, however, after two quick outs. Angelo State extended its lead to 2-0 in the following frame as pinch runner Sarah Woodman scored from second base on an infield single by Spence.
The Mocassins would pick up their only run of the game as Katie Brandon scored on an RBI single by Sarah Kohlbrenner in the bottom of the sixth inning.
A 20-minute rain delay would add drama to the looming seventh inning. When action resumed, the Rambelles put the first two runners on base, but were unable to plate an insurance run.
Florida Southern had some late life, as Stacy Gross reached on a one-out walk, but the Rambelle pitcher Spence retired the next two batters on a ground out and a pop up. Spence allowed just six hits to the Mocs while striking out four FSC hitters in the win.
Faulkner boosts ASU to 4-2 win
Senior shortstop Diana Faulkner saved the day for the Rambelles, hitting a towering three-run shot deep to left field that put ASU up for good in the top of the seventh, as Angelo State defeated St. Cloud State 4-2.
The Rambelles took an early lead on a solo home run by senior centerfielder Michelle Hofmann. The Belles’ hopes of a big first inning, however, were dashed with a ground and pop outs after three hits in the frame.
St. Cloud State rebounded quickly, as the Huskies’ leadoff hitter Abby Velta reached base on an infield single to left and advanced to second on an overthrow. Velta would steal third base and eventually score on an ASU throwing error.
The two teams battled in the fourth inning, as St. Cloud took a 2-1 lead on an RBI single by Megan Fuches. The Rambelles loaded the bases in the fifth inning in an attempt to respond, but a pair of ground outs thwarted the rally. An inning-ending double play in the following frame held ASU at bay for another frame. But, the Rambelles ended the bottom of the sixth inning with a spectacular 1-6-3 double play to remain within one run.
In the top of the seventh, the drama ensued as senior rightfielder Andrea Payan led off the frame with a single to leftfield. After a fielder’s choice and a fly out, the Rambelles were down to their final out. Hofmann then singled to centerfield to set up Faulkner’s go-ahead longball.
The Huskies loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with a single and a pair of walks. ASU relief pitcher Arin Spence dashed the hopes of a Huskie win and ended the game with a ground out and a fly out to close out the dramatic victory.
Moreno homers to secure comeback, 4-2
The comeback kids did it again, as the Rambelles rebounded from a two-run deficit to defeat Shippensburg, 4-2, in a semifinal matchup.
The Rambelles trailed early, as the Lady Raiders capitalized on a pair of ASU fielding errors in the bottom of the first, to take an early 2-0 lead. The Rambelles escaped without further damage as freshman pitcher Arin Spence induced a pop up to end the threat.
Shippensburg ace - and first team All-American - Kelly Tiesi limited ASU’s scoring opportunities over the next four innings as the Rambelles could only muster one base runner. Spence, however, answered the challenge as the Lady Raiders did not get a runner past second base during that same stretch.
The Rambelles opened up the sixth inning with the top of the order and senior Alexis Wing sparked the ASU rally with a lead-off single up the middle. Senior centerfielder Michelle Hofmann then knotted the game, 2-2, with a two-run blast to rightfield. One out later, senior leftfielder Stacy Broman pushed the Rambelles into the lead with a solo home run to left field.
The Rambelles would escape the sixth with the Lady Raiders stranding two aboard. With one out in the inning, Broman made a game-saving diving catch on a liner by Lady Raider Jamie Dacey.
The top of the seventh would bring more drama for the Rambelles, as senior designated player Cat Moreno, would step up to the box with a 1-0 count and unleash a 200-foot blast to deep left center to add to the Rambelles’ advantage.
The Lady Raiders would earn a baserunner on a walk in their half of the inning, but senior pitcher Claudia Lopez took over the mound and fanned two of the final three Shippensburg batters to preserve the win and earn the save.
Hofmann drives ASU to championship, 7-3
After dropping a 7-0 decision to Florida Southern, the Rambelles had a second chance at a national championship, and took advantage with a 7-3 victory to claim the crown in the “if” game.
In the final game, ASU’s offense surged early, scoring efficiently in the top of the first. Senior Alexis Wing reached on a walk, stole second and scored on an FSC error. The Mocs would get a run in the bottom of the first, with leadoff hitter Krista Bradley reaching on a Rambelle error, and later scoring on a single. But the Mocs stranded two runners on board to leave it tied at the end of the first, 1-1.
The Rambelles started the second inning in style, as Cat Moreno cranked a solo home run to deep center on the first pitch of the inning that bounced off the television truck. After a pair of singles by senior Andrea Payan and Wing, Hofmann – who was named Tournament MVP – stretched the Rambelle lead to 5-1 with a three-run blast, her fourth home run during the World Series.
ASU opened up the fourth inning with a double by senior Jaime McGalliard. Three batters later, Wing would score McGalliard with a ground out, giving the Rambelles a 6-1 cushion. Hofmann, the next batter, would drive in freshman Arin Spence with a single up the middle to complete ASU’s scoring.
Florida Southern tacked on a run in the seventh inning, but senior pitcher Claudia Lopez ended the tournament with a ground out to bring the national championship to San Angelo.
