March 9, 2004
SAN DIEGO - Two runs in the bottom of the seventh were not enough on Tuesday afternoon as the San Diego State softball team fell to No. 21/21 Florida, 3-2. The Gators scored two in the third and one in the fourth to take the lead and then held on through SDSU's late rally.
In the Aztec seventh, left fielder Erin Mahoney (Westchester, Calif.) and pinch hitter Lacey Craft (Valley Center, Calif.) each singled to shortstop. One out later, both runners scored when a grounder to the Gator pitcher by pitcher Deanna Richards (Visalia, Calif.) was thrown past the catcher. The play also allowed Richards to reach second as the potential tying run. After a ground out moved Richards to third, a ground out to the pitcher ended the rally.
Florida right fielder Lacy Howard homered to left field to begin the third inning and the Gators added to their lead when an overthrow to second on a stolen base attempt allowed a runner on third to score. Three consecutive singles in the fourth gave Florida their third run.
The Aztecs now hit the road and head to Fresno, Calif., for the Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic. SDSU faces host No. 15/17 Fresno State at 5 p.m. on Thursday and No. 23/18 Oregon State at 9 a.m. on Friday. The Aztecs play two games on Saturday, at 1 p.m. versus North Texas and at 7 p.m. against No. 1/1 UCLA. No. --/25 Long Beach State matches up with San Diego State at 1 p.m. on Sunday. After the Aztecs get back to campus, a 3 p.m. Tuesday game with No. 6/t7 Oklahoma awaits.