© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-12-08) -- Don't let the final score fool you.

Even after 9th-ranked Granite Hills scored seven times in the 3rd inning to take a commanding lead in the final of the Grossmont Conference Tournament, the ballgame came down to one final play before the Eagles escaped with Friday's (Apr. 11) 7-3 verdict over 7th-ranked Santana.

With starting pitcher JENNY LAHITTE obviously limping to the finish line on fumes and Santana bringing the potential tying run to the plate, Eagles teammate MEGAN BELIO earned the save in centerfield by hauling in a line drive for the final out, allowing Granite Hills to take the crown and avenge an earlier extra-inning loss to the Sultans during pool play.

"Having a 7-run lead made it easier to go back out there and pitch," said Lahitte, who struck out 11 Sultans to avenge her only setback of the season. "But they hit the ball hard the last two innings."

Lahitte was tossing a 2-hit shutout for five innings before starting to labor. A walk and a wild pitch put JESSIE OWENS on second base before BRITTANY FENN laced a double to left-centerfield to put Santana on the board in the 6th.

Then the big finish in the 7th saw two runs come home on an AMANDA CARPENTER drive which hit the base of the fence in centerfield for a double. Fenn walked to re-load the bases, but a heart-stopping drive by KELSEY McILONIE didn't have the elevation to get out of the park, landing in Belio's glove to end the game rather than going for a game-tying grand slam.

"We set a goal earlier this week to come out and play hard," noted Eagles head coach ERIN COYNE. "We approached the game as if we had nothing to lose."

Santana seemed to have the edge going in – a better record, a higher ranking and home-field advantage.

"Santana is a great team," added Coyne. "It didn't surprise me that they battled back."

The Sultans had to be shocked after going down 7-0 so quickly. In 17 previous contests, their pitching allowed more than one run just three times, posting 10 shutouts, including six straight to open the season, plus two more in GCT play.

 However, just like the Fred Davison Memorial Tournament finale in Las Vegs , when they lost late to Mira Mesa, 7-6, the Sultans (16-2) were tagged for one big inning which led to their second title game disappointment of the season -- their only losses of the season.

The Eagles' outburst starting innocently enough with a basehit by SHAYLA ZETSCH, a sacrifice bunt by LAUREN HAGEMANN, then Belio legged out an infield single.

Then the play which might've opened the floodgates saw BRITTANI BERTUSSI hit a shot off Sultans pitcher BRITTY BALOUGH. The ball bounded toward the shortstop for no play as a run scored.

Balough wasn't the same over the rest of the frame, getting removed for Owens to start the 4th. Owens tossed four shutout innings, allowing just three basehits, but not before the Eagles (13-4-1) unloaded with both guns.

JESSIE SCHATZ reached on an error to load the bases, then Lahitte singled in a pair of runs with a drive to right-centerfield for a 3-0 lead.

AMANDA OMAHEN walked to re-load the bases, then JILL SCIARRA and KYLEE WILSON each stroked 2-run doubles to bust open the contest.