April 12, 2003
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team improved to 28-14 on the season and remained unbeaten in Mountain West Conference action (6-0) as it defeated the UNLV Rebels today (1-0, 3-2) in a pair of extra-inning games at SDSU Field. The Aztecs have now won a season-high eight consecutive games, while the Rebels dropped to 18-27 (2-6 MWC).
Aztec pitcher Celena Velasquez (9-4) pitched 10 scoreless innings in the first game of the doubleheader. The freshman scattered four hits and tied a career-best by striking out nine batters en route to a 1-0 win over the Rebels.
Both team struggled offensively in the first game with UNLV advancing only two runners to second base in the 10 innings. SDSU, meanwhile, had a chance to score in the first extra frame, but sophomore Jennifer Funk was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a fielder's choice. The Aztecs put up the game's only run two innings later on junior Joann Figueroa's two-out RBI single to score Bridgette Caron, pinch running for freshman Bianca Cruz, who started the rally with a double to right center.
Game two also went extra-innings, with SDSU claiming a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the eighth when catcher Danielle Touhey drove in the winning run on a single to left field.
San Diego State had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two on a Jacque Vaca RBI single. UNLV came back in the sixth, scoring two runs on three hits to give the Rebels their first lead of the day. The Aztecs pushed the game to extra innings in the sixth when Cruz singled to bring home Caron.
Sophomore Bre DeSanta (13-4) tossed a complete game, giving up two runs and five hits while striking out seven. UNLV pitcher Becky McDonald (2-13) took the loss in both games.
San Diego State plays its final non-conference game of the season when it faces Centenary College of Louisiana on Sunday at 1 p.m. at SDSU Field.