Feb. 17, 2006
SDSU-Rider Box Score
SDSU-UC Santa Barbara Box Score
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team split a pair of games at the UC Santa Barbara Softball at the Beach Invitational in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Friday. The Aztecs (5-2) defeated Rider, 20-2, before falling to the host Gauchos by a score of 3-2.
In its game against the Broncs (0-1), SDSU pounded out a school-record 18 hits and five home runs en route to the 20-2 triumph, its largest margin of victory in the 29 years of the program. The Aztecs also set single-game records in runs (20) and RBI (19).
Thirteen of SDSU's 20 runs came in the third inning, the most ever scored in one inning by an Aztec team. The record-breaking inning featured 10 hits, including a grand slam by sophomore shortstop Chrissie Markham, a three-run homer by sophomore designated player Megan McDonald and a solo home run by sophomore right fielder Kristen Carranza.
SDSU reached base safely on its first eight plate appearances in the third and scored five runs with two outs.
Junior Christina Hollingshead added a pinch hit home run in the fourth and freshman Kasey Mytinger led a six-run SDSU fifth inning with a two-run homer over the left field wall, her first as an Aztec.
McDonald finished the game 3-for-3 with a SDSU-record six RBI. Carranza (3-for-5, two RBI), freshman third baseman Melissa Owens (3-for-3, three runs) and freshman first baseman Monica Alnes (3-for-4, three runs, two RBI) each added three hits for the Aztecs.
Senior pitcher Celena Velasquez (3-0) allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings to earn the victory.
In the second game, UC Santa Barbara (4-2) scored a run in each of the final two innings for the 3-2 win over SDSU.
The Aztecs scored both of their runs in the third. Carranza got things going when she hit a one-out single to left field, and advanced to second on a Gaucho error and freshman Erin Floros' fielder's choice. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball by the UC Santa Barbara catcher. With two on, Owens singled near the Gaucho pitcher, and Carranza scored. Following a stolen base by Owens, sophomore third baseman Taryin Casillas singled home Floros for SDSU's final run of the game.
UC Santa Barbara responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning when Christine Ramos hit an RBI single to left field.
With the Aztecs leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth, Ramos reached first on an SDSU error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Hejna. Kendra Singley singled to move Hejna to third. Tiffany Wright then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game at 2-2.
The Gauchos' Jennifer Davis led off the seventh with a walk and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to second base. Ericka Hansen ended the game with a two-out RBI single to left field, giving UC Santa Barbara the 3-2 win.
Sophomore Christina Ross (2-2) went the distance (6 2/3 innings) for the Aztecs and gave up seven hits and three runs (two earned), while striking out two batters.
SDSU will continue play in the UC Santa Barbara Invitational with games against Cal State Northridge (11:30 a.m.) and Long Beach State (2 p.m.) on Saturday.
SDSU-RIDER GAME NOTES: SDSU started eight underclassmen for the third consecutive game ... The Aztecs set numerous single-game school records including most runs (20), most hits (18), most home runs (five), most RBI (19), largest margin of victory (18) and most runs in a inning (13 - third) ... DP/C Megan McDonald's six RBI set an Aztec single-game record ... McDonald moved into a tie for ninth place with her sixth career home run ... 10 different SDSU players had at least one hit and eight had at least one RBI ... Five Aztecs had at least RBI... SDSU batted .529 (18-for-34) for the game ... Four Aztecs - RF Kristen Carranza, 3B Melissa Owens, 1B Monica Alnes and McDonald - had three hits apiece ... UT Christy Hollingshead and RF Kasey Mytinger each hit their first SDSU career home run.
SDSU-UCSB NOTES: The game was delayed in the bottom of the second inning for two hours and 45 minutes because of a rain delay ... Before DP/C Megan McDonald struck out in the second, she had reached base safely in seven consecutive plate appearances ... LHP Christina Ross allowed only one earned run in her first 21 innings pitched (0.33 ERA), before giving up two runs in the final 4 1/3 innings.