May 15, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team (38-20) fell to No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette (44-8) Thursday morning in the first Region 6 game of the 2003 NCAA Championships, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. Ragin' Cajun ace Brooke Mitchell (23-6) tossed a no-hitter en route to the 6-0 victory. All six Louisiana-Lafayette runs came by way of home runs.
Aztec freshman Celena Velasquez pitched a complete game and picked up the loss for SDSU to drop her record to 15-8. This year's Mountain West Conference pitcher of the year, Velasquez had a strong outing through five full innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four.
The Ragin' Cajuns took control of the game in the sixth, scoring five runs on five hits as third baseman Brittany McMurtry hit a two-run homer to center field to put Louisiana-Lafayette up, 3-0. Later in the inning, center fielder Tiffany Grayson sent a two-out three-run shot over the left field fence to claim the 6-0 win.
San Diego State only managed to get one runner on base in the contest, as sophomore right fielder Jennifer Funk reached on an error in the third frame. She stole second to get into scoring position, but the Aztec offense was unable to bring her home. Ragin' Cajun Danyele Gomez hit a home run in the first inning, her 19th of the season, to give her team an early 1-0 lead.
Fifth-seeded San Diego State will play tonight at 7 p.m. in an elimination game against the loser of the Cal State Fullerton/Rider game. The game will be broadcast live over the internet at goaztecs.com.