May 14, 2004
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - In an intense Mountain West Conference semifinal game, the San Diego State softball team (37-22) outscored New Mexico (30-35), 2-1, to move into Saturday's championship game against Utah (22-31). The Aztecs have now reached four consecutive tournament championship games, but are still searching for their first conference tournament championship in school history.
The three Aztec seniors won the game for SDSU in the bottom of the sixth. Center fielder Janna Kovensky (San Diego, Calif.) and third baseman Kelcy Murphy (San Diego, Calif.) led off the frame with singles, Kovensky advancing to third on Murphy's, and second baseman Joann Figueroa (Phoenix, Ariz.) followed by lifting a sacrifice fly to left to score Kovensky.
In the bottom of the third, catcher Danielle Touhey (Fresno, Calif.) hit the third home run of the junior's career, and third of the season, as San Diego State claimed an early 1-0 lead. She would follow that blast by singling in her second at-bat to finish 2-for-2 on the day.
Starting pitcher Cori Janelli (Visalia, Calif.) threw the first five frames and did not allow a run on three hits. Celena Velasquez (Tucson, Ariz.) came on in the sixth and allowed a two out game-tying home run to Lobo shortstop Ora Hensley, but the Aztecs quickly responded with the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning.
New Mexico would not quit in the seventh as the Lobos loaded the bases with one out, but Velasquez shut the door by striking out a pinch hitter on three pitches and then throwing two quick strikes on the next Lobo before inducing a ground out to Velasquez who threw her out and moved the Aztecs into the championship game.
Velasquez improved to a team-best 16-5 (.762 winning percentage) with the victory.
"It was a hard-fought game," head coach Kathy Van Wyk said. "The kids stayed positive, which was huge. Cori pitched a great game and we played excellent defense behind her, which is what we've got to do. We have one more to go and that's where we want to be."
Lobo pitcher Iraina Ogas threw both games today for New Mexico, including a 10-inning, 1-0 victory over BYU in the morning and tossed over 230 pitches on the day.
The Aztecs face Utah at 2 p.m. MDT on Saturday for the MWC Tournament championship and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Live stats can be accessed here.