March 18, 2005
SAN DIEGO -
<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>San Diego State used a strong recipe for success, timely-hitting and strong pitching, to pick up a pair of victories in day one of the SDSU Classic at SDSU softball stadium, topping UC Santa Barbara in the first game, 2-1, and picking up the win over Georgia Southern in the nightcap, 4-2. The Aztecs improve to 20-11 on the season, while the Gauchos fall to 10-9 and the Eagles to 12-17 on the year.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
In the first game of the day for SDSU, the combined talents of pitcher Celena Velasquez and designated player Kristen Carranza carried the Aztecs to a 2-1 victory over UCSB. Velasquez (10-4) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run and striking out six. Carranza was 3-for-3 against the Gauchos, including the game-winning RBI-triple in the sixth.
UCSB got on the board first, busting Velasquez's 3.1 inning no-hitter with a home run to left centerfield off of the bat of Jennifer Davis. It wouldn't last however, as SDSU put together a one-out single from Allison Smith, a walk to Megan McDonald and an RBI-single from Carranza to tie the game at one in the bottom of the fourth.
The Aztecs plated the winning run in the sixth after a one-out walk to McDonald and the triple from Carranza. Cori Janelli notched the final two outs of the game to pick up her first career save.
In the final game of the day, SDSU battled back from a two-run deficit to pick up the win over GSU. Janelli (8-6) picked up the win, tossing five innings, with six strikeouts and no walks.
The Eagles rocked Janelli in the first, opening with three straight hits and a wild pitch to plate a pair of runs. The Aztecs answered back in the bottom of the frame, using a pair of errors and an RBI-single from McDonald to pull within a run. SDSU tied it up in the fourth on a hit batsman, a sacrifice bunt and a two-out RBI-single from Danielle Touhey.
The Aztecs took the lead an inning later, as Smith drove home Erin Mahoney from third on an RBI-groundout. SDSU added to the lead in the sixth on an RBI-single from Meagan Hartung, scoring Carranza from third. Velasquez pitched the final two innings in relief to notch her Mountain West Conference-leading fourth save.
The Aztecs take on Towson at 3 p.m. and Longwood at 7 p.m. Tomorrow in the second day of the SDSU Classic. Full tournament info is available at www.goaztecs.com.