March 11, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team (15-12) topped No. 15/17 Fresno State (16-7), 1-0, on the first day of play at the Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic. The Aztecs ended a Bulldog 14-game winning streak in the all-time series between the teams dating to a 3-0 Aztec win on May 2, 1997. Pitcher Cori Janelli (Visalia, Calif.) extended her scoreless streak to 25.1 innings and has allowed only one earned run in her last 44.1 innings of work. She has all four Aztec shutouts this year. Bulldog pitcher Jamie Southern lost for only the second time this season (11-2).
Janelli retired 11 in a row until she ran into trouble in the fifth when the first two Bulldog batters singled. After striking out two batters, an error loaded the bases before the Fresno State's leading hitter, Christina Clark (.429 batting average, seven homers entering the game) hit a grounder to third which third baseman Meagan Hartung (San Diego, Calif.) took and ran to the bag to end the inning.
The Aztecs struck for their lone run in the top of the second. Right fielder Bree Boyer (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led off the inning with a single down the left field line. Designated player Lacey Craft (Valley Center, Calif.) bunted her to second. Shortstop Bianca Cruz (Glendale, Ariz.) popped out in foul territory to the first baseman, who in attempting to throw Boyer out at third, overthrew the bag and Boyer scored.
The Aztecs play No. 23/18 Oregon State at 9 a.m. on Friday. Match-ups with North Texas, No. 1/1 UCLA and No. --/25 Long Beach State finish out SDSU's play at the tournament.