May 2, 2003
Fort Collins, Colo. - For the second year in a row, the San Diego State softball team (35-16, 11-2 MWC) captured the Mountain West Conference regular-season title, as it defeated Colorado State, 2-1, in the second game of its doubleheader against the Rams on Friday afternoon. SDSU dropped a 1-0 decision earlier today before winning in the second game to successfully defend its league title.
The Aztecs took an early lead in game two when sophomore right fielder Jennifer Funk's sacrifice bunt advanced sophomore outfielder Erin Mahoney, who reached on a lead-off single. Junior second baseman Joann Figueroa, who went 3-for-4 in the contest, followed with a single in her at-bat before junior first baseman Jacque Vaca reached on a Ram error while Mahoney came around to score.
SDSU produced another run in the second frame, as freshman shortstop Bianca Cruz's single sent junior third baseman Kelcy Murphy to second base. Murphy would later score in the inning when Mahoney notched a two-out RBI single to put the Aztecs up, 2-0.
Colorado State (32-13, 11-7 MWC)scored in the bottom of the third when Kerry Farrell singled down the left field line to drive in Katie Dean. CSU threatened again in the seventh, as Melanie Laffoon doubled to left field with the tying run already on base. The Aztec defense, who's .975 fielding percentage is a league-best, prevented the run from scoring as left fielder Meagan Hartung connencted with Cruz to get the ball to catcher Danielle Touhey who tagged the CSU runner out at home. Dean flied out to center fielder Janna Kovensky to end the game as the Aztecs took the 2-1 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Bre DeSanta (16-4) scattered just five hits and struck out seven in her complete-game effort. DeSanta now owns a 16-0 career record against MWC opponents in regular-season games.
The San Diego State offense could not manage to find its rhythm in the first game, as the Aztecs only got three hits in its 1-0 loss to the Rams. Despite picking up the loss, freshman pitcher Celena Velasquez (13-5) had a good outing for the Aztecs, giving up just three hits and no earned runs.
SDSU closes out its 2003 regular-season campaign on Sunday, traveling to Albuquerque for a pair of games against New Mexico beginning at 1 p.m. (MDT). The Aztecs then return home to host the Mountain West Conference tournament, May 8-10, at SDSU Field.