Feb. 12, 2003
SAN DIEGO - Campbell/Cartier Classic San Diego State Softball (2-3) hosts the annual Campbell/Cartier Classic this weekend at the Sportsplex in Poway, Calif. SDSU welcomes 10 teams to America's Finest City, including Cal State Northridge, Central Florida, Fresno State, Kansas, Loyola Marymount, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Sacramento State and UC Santa Barbara. The 2003 tournament, which is held in honor of former Aztec softball players Susanne Campbell and Karen Cartier who lost their lives during the 1991 season in a single-car accident, is the 12th annual classic. The Aztecs face Michigan, who is tied for fourth in the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll, on Saturday. Another preseason pick, #15 Fresno State, will also be competing at the tournament. Results from all games can be found at www.goaztecs.com on the softball page.
Tickets and Directions to the Sportsplex The price for admission to the tournament for adults is $25 for a tournament pass and $10 for a day ticket. Ages 18 and under are free. The Sportsplex is located at 12349 McIvers Court in Poway, Calif., approximately 20 miles north of San Diego State. From I-15 (N or S), take the Scripps Poway Pkwy/Mercy Rd exit. If coming from the south, turn right onto Scripps Poway Pkwy; turn left onto Scripps Poway Pkwy if coming from the north. Turn left onto Community Road. Turn right onto Stowe Drive. Turn left onto McIvers Court.
Last Week in Review The San Diego State softball team opened its 2003 season with a 6-1 victory over Point Loma Nazarene on Thursday. In the second game of the doubleheader, however, the Aztecs fell to the Crusaders, 3-2. Freshman pitcher Deanna Richards picked up her first collegiate win against the Crusaders, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one. After spliting the doubleheader with Point Loma, SDSU traveled to Northridge for a three-game series over the weekend. The Aztecs avoided a sweep by the Matadors by winning the second game, 5-2. Freshman pitcher Celena Velasquez earned the win in that contest.
Third Base Threat Third baseman Kelcy Murphy had a stellar opening weekend, going 8-for-16 (.500) at the plate, including two doubles, one triple and one home run. The San Diego native earned the starting nod in all five of the Aztecs' games and hit safely in four of the five contests. Murphy, a junior, has had three multiple-hit games already this season, including three in the Aztecs' 11-inning battle with the Matadors on Sunday.
Fantastic Freshmen Four freshmen Aztecs, shortstop Bianca Cruz, outfielder Bridgette Caron, pitcher/infielder Deanna Richards and pitcher Celena Velasquez, saw a considerable amount of time on the field over the opening weekend. Cruz got the starting nod in all five games and currently owns a .312 batting average. Caron has four hits in 13 at-bats (.308), while Richards has three RBIs and is batting .273. Velasquez has walked only one batter in 17 innings of work and has struck out six.
Scouting Loyola Marymount Sophomore infielder Jessica Grassi has been pacing the Lions' offense so far this season, owning a .400 batting average and scoring two runs. LMU returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's squad that posted a 28-20 record. Loyola Marymount is currently 1-5 on the season, but will play UC Riverside before facing SDSU. The Aztecs lead the Lions 13-2 in the all-time series.
A Look at Kansas The Jayhawks boast a 4-0 record, having claimed victories over Mississippi (2-1), Bethune-Cookman (6-1) and Purdue (8-7, 3-1). Kansas has four players currently batting above .400 in Sylvia Pfeiffer (.625), Melany Torres (.556), Lindsey Weinstein (.455) and Dani May (.429). Friday's contest will be the first between the Jayhawks and Aztecs.
About Central Florida SDSU squares off against another first-time opponent when it plays the Golden Knights on Saturday. UCF is currently 5-5, but will play Fresno State and Loyola Marymount at the Classic before competing against the Aztecs. Sophomores Stephanie Best and Jania Shinhoster and juniors Rachelle Schmidt and Jen Whitley have each started in the Knights' 10 games and are are all batting over .300. Junior hurler Taylor Swayer currently has a 1.29 ERA, appearing in six games including four complete games.
Tracking Michigan The Wolverines open their 2003 season at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament with games against Fresno State, Cal State Northridge and Oregon before meeting up with SDSU Saturday evening. Michigan, along with Nebraska, has been tabbed as the fourth-ranked team in the country according to the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Top-25. The Wolverines return eight starters from the 2002 Big Ten Conference regular-season championship team. Michigan finished the season ranked No. 7 in the nation, with a 50-11 overall mark, 15-3 in league action. The Aztecs are 6-12 against Michigan in the all-time series.
Checking in on Oregon The Ducks have picked up eight wins so far in the 2003 season, upsetting No. 17 Georgia, 3-2, and No. 9 Florida State, 3-1, earlier this month. San Diego native Jenn Poore (Rancho Bernardo HS) leads the Ducks, batting .476 and driving in five runs. Pitchers Amy Harris (3-1) and Lindsey Kontra (3-0) have ERAs of 0.65 and 1.40, respectively. Oregon leads San Diego State, 7-4, in the all-time series.
Next Week The Aztecs continue tournament play, traveling to UC Santa Barbara for the Softball by the Beach Invitational. Ten teams will be participating in the event, including BYU, Cal Poly, Cal State Northridge, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, San Diego and Utah. SDSU will face Iowa State and Michigan State on Friday, followed by games against Cal State Northridge and host UCSB on Saturday. The Aztecs will conclude their competition at the tournament with a game against Kansas on Sunday.