March 3, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team won its sixth consecutive game with a 4-1 victory over No. 23 Oregon at the Aztec Classic at SDSU Stadium on Friday night. SDSU improved to 11-3 to tie last year's team with its best start in school history, while the Ducks, who defeated Loyola Marymount, 3-2, earlier in the day, dropped to 10-8
With the Aztecs holding a 1-0 advantage off a second-inning single by freshman Melissa Owens, and sophomore Taryin Casillas (walk) on first base with two outs, the game was suspended for over four hours.
Following the delay, sophomore Chrissie Markham singled to the second baseman and moved Casillas to third base on a well-executed hit-and-run play. Senior Bree Boyer's fielder choice scored Casillas and moved Markham to third after the Ducks' shortstop threw the ball into the outfield. Markham then scored on a wild pitch to put SDSU up, 3-0.
Sophomore Megan McDonald's third home run of the season in the fifth gave the Aztecs all the runs they would need.
Sophomore pitcher Christina Ross (4-2) lowered her season ERA to 0.54 after scattering five hits over five-plus innings to pick up the win for SDSU. She allowed one unearned run, a walk and struck out five batters.
Ross gave way to senior Celena Velasquez in the sixth after allowing two straight singles. Velasquez promptly struck out three consecutive batters to end the Oregon rally. She ended up tossing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts for her first save of the season.
Four Aztecs - senior Meagan Hartung, McDonald, Owens and Markham - had one hit apiece to lead the offense.
SDSU will continue its play in the five-team Aztec Classic with games against Loyola Marymount (2 p.m.) and 25th-ranked Fresno State (4:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
GAME NOTES: SDSU scored first for the 13th time in its 14 games ... In Aztecs 11 wins this season, they have outscored the opposition, 76-12 ... In its six-game winning streak, SDSU had outscored its opponents by a 30-5 margin ... Through 14 games, the Aztecs' team ERA this season is 1.22. ... SDSU has now clubbed 12 home runs. The school record is 19 set by the 1999 squad ... DP Megan McDonald moved into a tie for seventh place on the all-time Aztec list with her seventh career home run.