May 16, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team fell to Oregon, 4-1, in second-round action at the Region 6 site of the NCAA tournament, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, Friday night. The loss eliminated the Aztecs from the national tourney, bringing their 2003 campaign to an end. SDSU closed out the season with a 39-21 (.650) record, the best winning percentage in program history.
First baseman Jacque Vaca's lead-off double in SDSU's half of the fifth paved the way for the Aztec offense to produce its only run of the contest. Junior third baseman Kelcy Murphy notched a single to advance freshman Jamie Burton, running for Vaca, before freshman shortstop Bianca Cruz nailed an RBI single to score Burton.
The Ducks took an early 2-0 lead in the third inning when left fielder Andrea Vidlund, who later pitched in the game and got her Pac-10-leading 10th save for Oregon, hit a two-run homer over the right field fence. Oregon would tack on one more run in the fifth frame when Amber Hutchison scored on an Aztec error to extend its lead to three runs. Oregon's fourth and final run came in the sixth inning when Hutchison laid down a bunt to bring home Janell Bergstrom.
San Diego State threatened in the sixth, tallying two hits in the inning and advancing junior second baseman Joann Figueroa to third base after she reached on a lead-off single up the middle. But Vidlund retired the next two Aztec hitters to get out of the inning and secure the 4-1 win.
Bre DeSanta (18-6) picked up the loss for the Aztecs, although she pitched a solid outing as she struck out five and scattered just five hits. Freshman Celena Velasquez came in on relief for DeSanta in the sixth and gave up no runs on one hit. Anissa Meashintubby grabbed her eighth win of the season for Oregon.
San Diego State is now 4-4 all-time at the NCAA tournament, having made an appearance in the championship twice in the past three years.