Cal State Fullerton softball career strikeout leader Candice Baker returns to the Titans' dugout in 2008 as undergraduate assistant on Head Coach Michelle Gromacki's staff while she completes her degree in child and adolescent studies.

Baker was a four-year letter winner for Fullerton from 2004-07, posting a career 56-51 record in the circle with a 2.53 ERA and a program record 712 strikeouts - breaking Susan LeFebvre's previous mark of 702 in the NCAA Regionals at Ohio State last season. She twice won 20 games as a junior (22-10) and senior (21-14), becoming the seventh Titan pitcher - and the first since Jennifer Mortensen in 1994-95 - to log back-to-back 20-win seasons in school history. In the process, Baker also became the 23rd picher to reach 20 wins in a single-season.

Baker ranks among the school's best in numerous career categories, standing No. 8 in opponent average (.208), No. 5 in most strikeouts per seven innings (7.31), No. 6 in victories, tied for second in saves (7), second in appearances (135), second in games started (103), fifth in complete games (67), and third in innings pitched (685.0).

A dual threat at the plate, Baker had her best offensive season as a senior in helping Fullerton to its first regional title since 1995. She hit a career-best .282 with 24 runs scored, 14 extra base hits, and 23 RBI. Baker's 35 career doubles rank tied for ninth on the school's all-time list while her seven triples rank tied for seventh.

She also ranks tied for ninth in career walks (62), fourth in career hit by pitches (27), and tied for fifth in stolen bases (31).

Born Dec. 13, 1984, in Anaheim, Calif., Baker prepped at Cypress HS where she helped lead the Centurions to Empire League titles as a sophomore and senior, earning four first-team all-league honors in the process. She was twice named to the All-CIF Division III squad in 2002 and 2003.

Baker, who played travel ball for the O.C. Batbusters, was a member of five Amateur Softball Association National Championship-winning squads prior to her arrival at Cal State Fullerton and helped the Stratford Brakettes to a record 27th ASA Women's Major Fastpitch National Championship the summer prior to her senior year with the Titans.

Born Dec. 13, 1984, in Anaheim, her parents are Barton and Jean and she has an older sister, Kristen, who played softball collegiately at Louisiana-Monroe (2002-05), and a younger sister, Brittany.