Feb. 22, 2003
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team lost both its games Saturday in the second day of action at the UC Santa Barbara Softball by the Beach Tournament. The Aztecs dropped a 7-0 decision to Cal State Northridge, followed by a 1-0 extra-inning loss to the host Gauchos. With the losses, SDSU's record now stands at 8-6 on the season.
The Aztecs threatened early in their game against CSUN when sophomore left fielder Erin Mahoney, SDSU's leadoff hitter, laid down a bunt single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior infielder Joann Figueroa came to the plate next, singling to center field and advancing Mahoney to third. Figueroa stole second, her first stolen base of the season, to put the Aztecs in scoring position. Junior center fielder Janna Kovensky popped up to second base and Mahoney made a run for home, but was called out at the plate.
Cal State Northridge scored three runs in its first inning when, with the bases loaded, Jade Abel doubled to bring home three Matadors. CSUN's Emilee Moore and Jen Dishner each had a triple in the third and fifth innings, respectively, and each scored to put Northridge up, 5-0. The Matadors added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim the 7-0 shutout.
SDSU pitcher Bre DeSanta (3-1) picked up her first loss of the season, but still owns a 0.97 ERA. Five Aztecs got hits in the game including Mahoney, Figueroa, junior first baseman Jacque Vaca, sophomore catcher Danielle Touhey and freshman shortstop Bianca Cruz.
The Aztecs' game against the Gauchos was a pitcher's dual, as the contest was scoreless through eight innings of play. SDSU freshman pitcher Deanna Richards allowed just five hits while striking out four and walked only one batter. She has a team-leading 0.79 ERA and pitched her third complete game.
Richards' efforts in the circle were supported by her teammates who denied the Gauchos runs on two occasions, as Kovensky made a throw from center field to Aztec catcher Amber Grahlman to get a UCSB runner out at home in the first inning and third baseman Kelcy Murphy and Grahlman connected on a throw to the plate to tag out another Santa Barbara runner in the eigth.
UCSB's Jami Trinidad's sacrifice fly to left field proved to be the game-winning RBI, bringing home Ashley Groefsema in the top of the ninth.
The Aztecs look to end their participation at the UCSB tournament with a win, squaring off against Kansas tomorrow at 11:15 a.m.