Feb. 21, 2003
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team was victorious in both its games in first day-action at the UC Santa Barbara Softball by the Beach Invitational on Friday. The Aztecs defeated Iowa State, 5-1, then beat Michigan State, 2-1. With the win, SDSU improves to 8-4 overall and are currently riding a five-game winning streak, picking up wins in six of its last seven games.
Freshman Celena Velasquez (2-1) was in the circle for the Aztecs in their game against the Cyclones. She allowed one run, while striking out three, and did not walk a single batter in her complete-game effort.
SDSU put four runs on the board in the third inning, as junior outfielder Janna Kovensky singled to center field to bring home junior Erin Mahoney and sophomore Britanny Green. Freshman Bridgette Caron scored on a Kelcy Murphy single and Kovensky crossed home plate when junior Jacque Vaca put the ball in play. The Aztecs added an insurance run in the fourth when Mahoney singled to bring home Green.
Michigan State scored early in the first inning when Spartan Brittney Green came home on a Natalie Furrow single. SDSU would later tie the game at one run each, as Kovensky crossed home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Aztecs and Spartans battled until the eighth inning when Mahoney's game-winning sacrifice flyout to center field brought home freshman Bree Boyer to capture the 2-1 victory.
Aztec pitcher, freshman Deanna Richards (3-2), fanned five Spartans and walked only one of the 32 batters she faced as she pitched her second complete game of the season.
San Diego State returns to action tomorrow to face the Cal State Northridge Matadors at 3:45 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. tilt against tournament host UCSB.
SDSU - 004 100 0- 5 10 0ISU - 000 001 0- 1 7 1WP: Velasquez (2-1)LP: Bice
MSU - 100 000 00- 1 6 1SDSU- 000 100 01- 2 2 2WP: Richards (3-2)LP: Beech