April 4, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
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SDSU Softball To Host New Mexico, Colorado State in MWC Contests
After sweeping Brigham Young for the first time since March 30, 2002, the San Diego State softball team will hope to continue its winning ways when it hosts a pair of doubleheaders against New Mexico and Colorado State this weekend. The Aztecs (17-8, 2-0 MWC), who are receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate national poll, will play the Lobos (19-15, 0-2 MWC) at 5 p.m. Friday before two games with the Rams (21-9, 2-0 MWC) at noon Sunday.
SDSU is only two wins away from tying its four conference victories (4-16) in 2005. After finishing March with an 8-5 record, the Aztecs will look to improve on their disappointing April of last season, when they went 1-15.
Last Weekend With the Aztecs
SDSU swept Brigham Young for the first time since March 30, 2002, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Cougars in the process, and did so in convincing fashion. The Aztecs won the first game, 8-1, before taking the second in six innings by a score of 10-0. It was the first time SDSU swept Brigham Young in Provo since April 21, 2000. However, not all was good for the Aztecs as their games against Utah were cancelled due to rain, snow and hail.
Aztecs Back in the National Spotlight
SDSU is back in the national spotlight after being left out of both national polls for two straight weeks.
The Aztecs received one vote in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate poll, putting the team in a tie for 32nd place with Oregon, a team SDSU beat twice earlier in the season, and Notre Dame. The Aztecs were 33rd with three votes on March 7 and moved into a tie for 32nd with Iowa on March 14 with three votes.
In the USA Today/NFCA poll, SDSU received enough votes to be mentioned among the top 35 teams for consecutive weeks. The Aztecs deputed on the March 8 version of the poll with seven votes, good enough for a tie for 31st with Iowa. The following week, SDSU dropped to two votes, but remained in a tie for 31st with Florida.
Seven teams that were originally on SDSU's schedule have been either ranked or receiving votes in the polls at the same time as the Aztecs, including UCLA, California, Northwestern, Fresno State, Brigham Young, Cal State Fullerton, Oregon and Colorado State.
Christina Ross Named MWC Pitcher of the Week
San Diego State sophomore Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif./Univ. of Kansas) has been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for her performances in a pair of wins over Brigham Young on Friday. The award was the first for the University of Kansas transfer and the second by an Aztec this season. Freshman Melissa Owens won the award on March 7.
A left-hander, Ross went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances on Friday. She tossed a combined 10.0 innings and allowed only five hits and one walk, while striking out six batters against the MWC defending champion and preseason favorite Cougars.
In the first game, Ross came in relief in the fourth inning with two runners on and no outs. She got out of the jam by allowing a sacrifice bunt, striking out the next batter and getting a groundout for the final out. Ross allowed three hits and struck out three over the final 4.0 innings to pick up the win.
In the nightcap, Ross pitched a complete game shutout, giving up only two hits in 6.0 innings. She struck out two and did not allow a walk. Ross retired the final 15 Brigham Young batters and did not allow a Cougar runner to reach second base.
The Fountain of Youth
With eight freshmen and seven sophomores, the Aztecs are the second-youngest team in the Mountain West Conference. Fifteen of the 22 players (68.2 percent) on the SDSU roster are underclassmen, trailing only UNLV (16 of 21/76.2 percent).
Preseason favorite Brigham Young is the most experienced team as 12 of its 21 players (57.1 percent) are either juniors or seniors.
However, the Aztec underclassmen have already proved their worth as evident by the statistics. After 25 games, the top six batters (with at least 15 official at-bats) are underclassmen.
The freshmen and sophomores are batting .291 (148-for-508). The underclassmen also have 86.7 percent of the home runs (13 of 15), 83.8 percent of the RBI (93 of 111), 80.5 percent of the total bases (215 of 267) and have scored 77.7 percent of the runs (94 of 121).
In addition, the underclassmen's earned run average of 1.06 is 2.2 runs lower than the juniors and seniors (3.26), while their opponent's batting average of .209 is much lower than upperclassmen's average of .272.
Can't Touch This
The Aztec pitching staff is off to another fine start. Through 25 games, the SDSU hurlers are 17-8 with a 1.88 ERA, best in the Mountain West Conference. The staff is also ranked first in the league in fewest walks allowed per game (0.96), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.83) and WHIP (Walks + hits/innings pitched) at 1.03.
Opponents are only hitting .234 off the Aztecs, second-lowest in the MWC, and their .680 winning percentage is the second-highest in the league. SDSU's four saves are second in the league.
Against No. 2 UCLA on Feb. 12, SDSU held the Bruins, who came into the game averaging 13.0 runs per game, to their then lowest run total of the year in a 2-1 loss. In UCLA's previous four games, it had scored 22, 13, nine and eight runs, respectively. The Bruins didn't get their second run of the game until the sixth inning.
After allowing four runs in their first game of the season against Cal Poly (W, 9-4), the Aztecs gave up only 18 runs over their next 14 games (1.29 runs per game) before being shut out by No. 25 Fresno State, 11-0. Included in the 14-game streak were five shutouts.
Swinging For the Fences
The SDSU offense is having one of its best seasons in recent memory and are threatening many of the team batting records. Despite hitting at sea level and the other five teams hitting at elevation, the Aztecs are third in batting average (.288), third in slugging percentage (.410), third in doubles per game (1.12) and third in runs per game (4.84). Also, SDSU strikes out the fewest of any team (3.24 per game) and it steals the most bases per game (1.08).
The Aztecs' 15 home runs are just four shy of tying the team record of 19 set by the 1999 squad, while the current .288 batting average is percentage points behind the 1996 team (.289). Other records that could be broken this season include slugging percentage (.411 this season, .345 in 2002 and 1996) and on base percentage (.378 this season, .344 in 1996).
In Ross We Trust
If you didn't know who sophomore LHP Christina Ross was before she came to The Mesa, you do now. A transfer from Big 12 power Kansas, Ross has already become one of the dominant pitchers in the Mountain West Conference.
Ross began the season with 11 1/3 innings of scoreless ball before being charged with an earned run in SDSU's 2-1 loss to No. 2 UCLA. So far this season, the Santa Clarita, Calif., native is 8-5 with a 1.04 ERA in 74.0 innings. She also has two saves and has recorded 53 strikeouts, while limiting opponents to a .193 batting average when she is in the circle.
Ross made her debut in a relief role in SDSU's 9-4 win over Cal Poly on Feb. 9. She tossed 2 1/3 perfect innings and recorded two strikeouts to pick up her first save as an Aztec.
On Feb. 11 versus Massachusetts, Ross kept the Minutewomen guessing all day en route to the complete game shutout and 1-0 SDSU victory. Ross gave up five hits, one walk and struck out five in her first start at SDSU, and did not allow an UMass runner to reach third base.
Ross also pitched two innings against second-ranked UCLA, where she allowed her first earned run of the season on four hits.
She followed up the Bruin game with a complete game shutout against San Diego, where she struck out seven and did not allow an opposing player past second base.
Ross went the distance for SDSU and struck out five batters in its 5-1 win over Long Beach State. She did not allow an earned run and gave up only four hits.
Two games later against Kentucky, Ross came on in relief with runners on second and third with one out, and struck out consecutive batters to get out of the jam. She struck out four over the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed just one hit to pick up her second save of the season.
Against then-No. 23 Oregon in the Aztec Classic, Ross struck out five, allowed five hits and one unearned run in 5.0 innings. She tossed the final 3.0 innings against the Ducks in their second meeting in three days to pick up the win after giving up just three hits and an unearned run, while striking out two.
In a 1-0 loss to Hawai'i on March 16, Ross allowed just one run on two hits.
Ross earned two wins as the Aztecs swept MWC rival Brigham Young in Provo. She tossed a combined 10.0 scoreless innings and allowed only five hits and one walk, while striking out six batters against the MWC defending champion and preseason favorite Cougars. In the second game, Ross allowed only two hits in 6.0 innings. She retired the final 15 Brigham Young batters and did not allow a Cougar runner to reach second base. For her efforts against Brigham Young, Ross earned the MWC Pitcher of the Week award, the first of her career.
As of April 4, Ross leads the Mountain West Conference with a 1.04 ERA and a WHIP (BB+H/IP) of 0.851. She is also second in opponents batting average (.193), tied for second in saves (two), tied for fifth in wins (eight), tied for eighth in strikeouts (53) and tied for ninth in appearances (15).
Super-Sized Performance(s)
After only earning four at-bats (1-for-4, .250) in SDSU's first four games, Megan McDonald went on a tear over her next three contests. The sophomore batted .778 (7-for-9) with a home run and seven RBI as the Aztecs went 2-1 during the stretch. At one point, she reached base safely on seven consecutive plate appearances.
The Glendale, Ariz., native went 3-for-3 with an RBI in SDSU's 5-0 win over San Diego on Feb. 15. She followed that game up with one for the record books. McDonald finished 3-for-3 with an Aztec single-game record six RBI in a SDSU 20-2 win over Rider on Feb. 17 at the UC Santa Barbara Invitational. Three of the RBI came on a three-run home run with two outs in the third. She also earned a bases-loaded walk in the inning. On the same day, McDonald singled in the Aztecs' 3-2 loss at host UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
McDonald also had a very impressive outing in Provo, Utah, as SDSU swept Brigham Young for the first time since March 30, 2002. McDonald batted .667 (4-for-6) over the two games with a home run, a double and five RBI. In the first game, she tied her career-high with three RBI. She also scored twice and hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season, moving her into sole possession of seventh place on the Aztecs' all-time home run list with eight. She added an RBI double and a sacrifice fly in the second game and had a streak of reaching safely in five consecutive plate appearances until she grounded into a double play in the fourth inning.
Through April 4, McDonald is ranked among the Mountain West Conference leaders in numerous categories including on base percentage (2nd, .500), batting average (5th, .382), slugging percentage (6th, .618) and walks (T-9th, 13).
If the season were to end today, McDonald's on base percentage of .500 would be the highest in SDSU single-season history, as would her .618 slugging percentage. McDonald's .381 batting average currently is second, just percentage points behind Kellie Nordhagen's record season in 2000 (.389).
They Call Me Clutch
Freshman first baseman Monica Alnes is off to an impressive start in her first season on The Mesa. Alnes has played in 24 of SDSU's 25 games this season and has earned starts in all 24 appearances. She is second on the team in batting .338 (24-for-71) and in runs scored (16), and is tied for second with 13 RBI. In addition, her 24 hits are tied with sophomore Erin Floros for the most on the team. Alnes is also ranked third among the Mountain West Conference leaders with 188 putouts.
What might be even more impressive is her ability to come through in the clutch. Alnes has three game-winning runs and two game-winning RBI. The five combined game-winning plays are tops on the team. Another way of looking at it is that Alnes is responsible for a game-winning play 33.3 percent (5 of 15) of the time.
Alnes leads the team with a .387 average (12-for-31) (minimum 10 at-bats) with runners in scoring position and is second on the squad with her .386 batting average (17-for-44) (minimum 20 at-bats) with runners on base. Alnes is also tied for the lead with freshman Melissa Owens with two hits with the bases loaded and is second on the squad with her seven two-out RBI.
Owens Owns All
Freshman Melissa Owens has turned out to be one of the top pitchers, not only on the team, but in the Mountain West Conference. Owens has started six games for the Aztecs this season and is 3-0 with a 1.12 ERA in 31 1/3 innings of work. She has struck out 34 batters and has walked only four batters for a spectacular 8.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Among the Mountain West pitching leaders, Owens is second in ERA (1.12), second in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.5) and seventh in opponents batting average (.246)
Owens earned her first start in a game against then No. 2 UCLA. The San Diego native went 3.0 innings and struck out four batters, while allowing three hits and one run. Owens has tossed 15 2/3 innings of scoreless ball since the Bruin game (Feb. 12). Owens pitched 12 days later in a 8-0 rout by the Aztecs over Wagner. She tossed all 5.0 innings, gave up four hits and struck out seven batters. Against the Toreros on March 1, Owens tossed a one-hit, complete game shutout (6.0 innings) and struck out a career-high eight batters. Three days later in a 7-2 SDSU win over Loyola Marymount, Owens threw 4.0 scoreless innings and struck out two. Owens also pitched well in the Aztecs' 1-0 loss to Oklahoma State on March 16 in Hawaii. She tossed a perfect 6 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, but did not earn the decision. She struck out six batters and issued one walk.
Owens has also done well at the plate for the Aztecs in the 2006 campaign. She is currently batting .311 (19-for-61), after going 5-for-6 with three RBI in SDSU's sweep over Brigham Young in Provo, Utah. Owens is also tied for fourth on the team with 12 runs scored and is tied for ninth in the MWC with five stolen bases.
Feeling the Flo(res)
Freshman Erin Floros is making her presence known on the team and in the Mountain West Conference. Floros, who was recruited by national powerhouses Oklahoma and Washington, is second on the team with a .329 (24-for-73) batting average. She is tied for the team lead in hits (24), and leads the squad in doubles (seven) and total bases (37). The seven doubles are tied for 10th in the MWC. The San Diego native also ranks second on the squad with a .507 slugging percentage and .424 on base percentage.
Floros is currently in the midst of a career long eight-game hitting streak. Over the eight contests, the catcher is batting .440 (11-for-25) with three two-hit games.
Defensively, Floros has been a gem as well. She has picked off four runners, tops in the Mountain West, and has committed only one error in 132 chances for a fielding percentage of .992.
A Glance At New Mexico
The Lobos are 19-15 after falling to Colorado State twice in their MWC season opening doubleheader. Cassie Chavez leads the team with a .388 (40-for-103) batting average and three others - Lindsey Elcress (.384, 7 HR, 32 RBI), Ashley Allen (.373) and Kristina Schmallen (.366, 9 HR, 36 RBI) - are ranked in the top-10 in hitting in the MWC for New Mexico. Katie Gregg leads the pitching staff with a 10-4 record and 3.92 ERA.
The Aztecs will be meeting the Lobos for the 66th time, most of any of SDSU's opponents. The Aztecs lead the series, 40-25.
A Preview Of Colorado State
The Rams have won six games in a row and are tied with the Aztecs for first place in the MWC with a 2-0 MWC record (21-9 overall). Jessica Strickland (8 HR, 30 RBI) leads the squad with a .435 average (47-for-108), while Kim Klabough (11-2, 1.79 ERA) is the team's top pitcher.
The Aztecs have won three in a row against Colorado State and are 24-12 since 2000 versus the Rams.