May 19, 2001
LOS ANGELES - San Diego State rallied for six runs in the seventh inning and stayed off elimination with a 6-1 victory over Wisconsin Saturday afternoon at Easton Stadium in the NCAA regional. Earlier in the day, second-ranked and top-seed UCLA defeated the Aztecs 3-1, placing the Aztecs in the elimination game.
The Aztecs, one of 16 teams remaining in the NCAA tournament, play UCLA tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. San Diego State will have to defeat the Bruins twice tomorrow to win the region and advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City on May 24-28. UCLA (58-5), undefeated in the NCAA tournament, only needs to win once.
The victory marked the second time in two days the Aztecs (41-23) defeated the Badgers (33-27) in the seventh inning.
"I wish we didn't have to wait until the seventh inning to score," San Diego State coach Kathy Van Wyk. "Don't wake me up from this dream. I am so proud of our kids. They gave UCLA everything they could handle and then we had to play another game just like that."
For the second time in two days Aztec right-hander Sandra Durazo and Badger right-hander Andrea Kirchberg battled in a pitchers dual. Wisconsin, which lost 1-0 to the Aztecs in the seventh inning on Friday, got on top in the fifth inning when designated player Sheena Padovan singled home Teresa Mendez giving the Badgers a 1-0 lead.
San Diego State had opportunities to score, placing the leadoff runner aboard in three times in a four-inning span from the second to sixth innings. But it wasn't until the seventh frame that the Aztecs were able to score.
In the top of the seventh with one out, sophomore designated player Kristina Kirk had an infield single. Junior catcher Brooke Johnson then lined a shot back to the pitcher that Kirchberg couldn't handle, placing runners on first and second with one out. Freshmen pinch hitter Kelcy Murphy, singled to center field and the Badger bobbled the ball allowing the tying run to score and placing the runners on second and third.
Freshman shortstop Joann Figueroa had a bunt single scoring pinch runner Aubrey Ray from third and giving the Aztecs a 2-1 lead. One batter later, junior left fielder Kellie Nordhagen tripled off the fence in right field, scoring freshman Joann Figueroa and Murphy. Nordhagen was 2-for-3, with a run scored and two runs batted in the game.
By the time the game was over the Aztecs had struck for six runs on six hits and have seized control of the contest. The explosion made a winner of Durazo for the 30th time this season. The senior limited the Badgers to just three hits and walked one while recording five strikeouts.
The Aztecs were forced to regroup to play Wisconsin after losing the winner's bracket game against UCLA 3-1 earlier in the day.
Bruin starter Keira Goerl held the Aztecs in check, allowing just three hits and issuing no walks in improving to 26-2 on the season.
UCLA struck first with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. First baseman Tairia Mims hit a solo home run to left-center field giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
The Aztecs countered with a run in the fourth inning. Kovensky lifted a two-out homer, her fourth of the season, to left field to tie the game at one.
The Bruins took the lead for good when left fielder Stephanie Ramos singled to right field scoring Erin Rahn from second base and giving the Bruins a 2-1 advantage. UCLA pushed across an insurance run in the sixth when right fielder Courtney Dale singled home designated player Claire Sua.
Durazo suffered the loss, scattering eight hits over six innings.
(1) UCLA 3, (4) San Diego State 1
San Diego State 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 3 0UCLA 0 0 1 0 1 1 x - 3 8 0Sandra Durazo and Brooke Johnson. Keira Goerl and Stacey Nuveman. W - Keira Goerl (26-2). LP - Sandra Durazo (30-14). S - none. LOB - UCLA 6, San Diego State 2. 2B - none. 3B - none. HR - UCLA: Tairia Mims (17, 0 on, 2 out in 3rd). SDSU: Janna Kovensky (4, 0 on, 2 out 4th). SB - UCLA: Monique Mejia (5). CS - none. SH - SDSU: Tashie Aguinaga. UCLA: Natasha Watley. SF - none. T - 2:13.
(4) San Diego State 6,(5) Wisconsin 1
San Diego State 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 - 6 9 0Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 3 2Andrea Kirchberg and Nicki Starry. Sandra Durazo and Brooke Johnson. W - Sandra Durazo (30-14). LP - Andrea Kirchberg (22-13). S - none. LOB - San Diego State 6, Wisconsin 3. 2B - UW: Sheena Padovan (4). 3B - SDSU: Kellie Nordhagen (3). HR - none. SB - SDSU: Janna Kovensky. CS - none. SH - SDSU: Kellie Nordhagen, Janna Kovensky, Tashie Aguinaga. UW: Jennifer Grill. SF - none. T - 2:39. A - 468.
NCAA Regional, Los Angeles, Calif. Seed No. 2 - May 17-20 at Los Angeles
May 17Game 2: (5) Wisconsin 3, (2) Fresno State 1 (9 innings)Game 3: (4) San Diego State 2, (3) Cal State Northridge 0Game 1: (1) UCLA 8, (6) Coastal Carolina 0 (5 innings)Game 4: (2) Fresno State 6, (6) Coastal Carolina 4 (Coastal Carolina eliminated)May 18Game 5: (3) Cal State Northridge 3, (2) Fresno State 1 (Fresno State eliminated)Game 6: (4) San Diego State 1, (5) Wisconsin 0Game 7: (1) UCLA 9, (3) Cal State Northridge 0 (Cal State Northridge eliminated)May 19 Game 8: (5) Wisconsin, byeGame 9: (1) UCLA 3, (4) San Diego State 1Game 10: (4) San Diego State 6, (5) Wisconsin 1 (Wisconsin eliminated)May 20 Game 11: (1) UCLA (visitors) vs. (4) San Diego State (home), 12:30 p.m.Game 12: Championship Game 2 (if necessary), 3 p.m.