May 6, 2001
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State and New Mexico softball teams produced a pair of pitching duels, resulting in a split of a doubleheader with the Aztecs claiming a 1-0 victory in nine innings before the Lobos responded with a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at SDSU Field.
The Lobos victory in the second game snapped a five-game San Diego State winning streak and prohibited the Aztecs from claiming a first-round bye with the second-seed in the Mountain West Conference championship next week. San Diego State will be the third seed, while New Mexico, which will host the tournament beginning on Thursday, will be the fourth seed.
San Diego State right-hander Sandra Durazo celebrated the final home games of her career in style. She pitched two complete games, allowing one run - which was unearned - in 16 innings of work. New Mexico countered with the duo of Hayley Punter and Amy Dumas. Punter pitched a complete game in the opener, scattering six hits and striking out nine in 8.2 innings in picking up the loss. Dumas limited the Aztecs to three hits in the nightcap in helping New Mexico earn the split.
In the first game, Durazo continuously worked out of jams. New Mexico had a base runner in every inning but the fourth, and placed the leadoff batter aboard in five of nine innings. But the Aztec senior was up to the challenge, stranding 10 Lobo baserunners in the first contest.
The Aztecs, which had just three base hits entering the ninth, got a one-out single from right fielder Tiffany Goudy to start the rally. Junior left fielder Kellie Nordhagen followed suit with a single to left field. One batter later, another Aztec senior, third baseman Tashie Aguinaga singled home Goudy giving the Aztecs a 1-0 victory.
In the second contest, New Mexico scratched out an unearned run in the first inning and rode Dumas' arm to victory.
Cayley Warner singled down the right field line and stole second base to open the game. With two outs, Krissy Keene singled to deep shortstop, allowing Warner to advance to third base. Warner then scored on a passed ball to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead.
Durazo kept the game close, by stranding nine New Mexico base runners. But the Aztec offense never got on track as Dumas limited San Diego State to three hits and pitched out of a jam in the seventh inning. After a leadoff single by freshman Janna Kovensky. Dumas recorded three consecutive out to earn the complete game shutout.
San Diego State is 35-22 overall and 10-8 in Mountain West Conference play, while New Mexico moves to 37-22-1 overall and 10-9-1 in league action. Both teams will begin play at the Mountain West Conference championship on Thursday in Albuquerque, N.M.
San Diego State 1, New Mexico 0 (9 innings) (game one)
New Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 7 0San Diego State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 6 0Hayley Punter and Tiffani Chambers. Sandra Durazo and Shauna Fisher. WP -?Durazo (24-11). LP -?Punter (14-7). Save -?none. LOB -?New Mexico 10, San Diego State 3. DP - New Mexico 1, San Diego State 0. 2B -?none. 3B -?none. HR - none. RBIs -?SDSU: Tashie Aguinaga (13). SB -?UNM: Kelly Glass. SDSU: Kellie Nordhagen (9). CS -?UNM: Fenelli. SDSU: Summer Ehrsam. SH -?UNM: Sandberg. SF -?none. T -?2:36. A - 133.
New Mexico 1, San Diego State 0 (game two)
New Mexico 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 8 0San Diego State 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 0Amy Dumas and Tiffani Chambers. Sandra Durazo and Shauna Fisher. WP -?Dumas (16-6). LP -?Durazo (24-12). Save -?none. LOB -?New Mexico 9, San Diego State 4. 2B -?none. 3B -?none. HR - none. RBIs -?none. SB -?UNM: Cayley Warner. CS -?none. SH -?UNM: Marianna Fenelli. SDSU: Tashie Aguinaga, Sarah Hershman. SF - none. T -?1:55. A - 133.