March 5, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Aztec pitching was at its best in day two of the Louisville Slugger Classic on the campus of <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Arizona State, holding Southern Utah and the Sundevils to a combined five hits and only one run in the wins over the Thunderbirds, 10-1, and ASU, 1-0. SDSU improves to 14-7 on the year, while SUU falls to 1-8 and the Sundevils to 15-4.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Game one against the Thunderbirds started out with a bang, as the Aztecs posted a triple by Erin Mahoney, an RBI single by Tamani Wells and a two-run home run by Megan McDonald to put SDSU up 3-0 in the top of the first. In the top of the second, the Aztecs collected a pair of errors, a two-run double by Mahoney, and an RBI single by Chrissie Markham to push SDSU even further ahead, 6-0.
The Aztecs added another run in the third on a solo home run by Kristen Carranza, before tallying the final margin on a single from Mahoney, a pair of Thunderbird errors and a two-RBI single by Carranza. SUU's only score came on a solo home run by Kristy Miller in the fifth.
SDSU's Cori Janelli started the game, but Katie Cochran (2-1) came in to the game in the bottom of the second following a 20 minute rain delay to pick up the win. Cochran went five innings, allowing three hits and collected four strikeouts.
Mahoney was 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, Wells was 2-4 with an RBI and a pair of runs, McDonald finished 2-4 with a pair of runs and two RBI and Carranza was 2-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
Game two against the Sundevils was almost a replay of the first match up between the two teams, as pitcher Katherine Burkhart threw another gem, but the Aztecs were able to scratch out a run and rally behind a gritty complete-game performance by Celena Velasquez to pull out the win.
SDSU picked up there only run in the third, when, after two outs, Meagan Hartung and Mahoney hit back-to-back first pitch singles, and then Boyer was hit by a pitch to load the bases for McDonald, who was hit by a pitch, forcing in Hartung for the only run of the game.
Velasquez (7-1) picked up the win with her complete-game two-hitter, and picked up her fourth shutout and sixth complete game of the season, all despite battling a cold. Burkhart (5-2) only allowed three Aztec hits and struck out seven, but three hit batters hurt her cause.
SDSU plays its final game of the Louisville Slugger Classic Sunday, against Southern Utah, gametime set for 10 a.m. MT.