May 11, 2006
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - San Diego State's Christina Ross threw a complete game shutout and the Aztecs took advantage of four UNLV errors en route to a 6-0 victory at the Mountain West Conference tournament at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday night. SDSU (31-11), the No. 1 seed in the six-team, double-elimination tournament, will face the winner of second-seeded Brigham Young and fifth-seeded Colorado State at 7 p.m. Friday.
Ross (15-7), who was named the MWC Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday night, earned her fifth shutout of the season after allowing only three hits and two walks. She struck out three batters, induced 14 groundouts and did not allow a runner to reach third base for the fourth time this season.
Freshman Monica Alnes went 2-for-2 with two runs for the Aztecs, who finished with nine hits on the night. Sophomore Tamani Wells added two hits and a RBI, while classmates Chrissie Markham (two RBI) and Taryin Casillas (one RBI) each added a hit apiece. Freshman Erin Floros singled and threw out two runners trying to steal second base.
Taking advantage of two Rebel (25-36) errors, SDSU scored four of its runs in the first inning. Floros, who reached on a single, scored the Aztecs' first run when Casillas blooped an infield single over UNLV pitcher Christie Robinson's head. A fielding error by the Rebels' second baseman Caitlin Paus allowed sophomore Megan McDonald to score from third to give SDSU a 2-0 lead. Markham followed with a two-run single to right field.
In the fourth, Wells ripped a single up the middle to score senior Bree Boyer to put the Aztecs up, 5-0.
Alnes scored SDSU's final run in the fifth after freshman Kasey Mytinger grounded into a double play.
Mountain West Softball Tournament
Eller Media Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.
(1) San Diego State 6, (4) UNLV 0
UNLV (25-36) - 000 000 0 - 0 3 4
San Diego State (31-11) - 400 110 x - 6 9 0
Robinson and Hillyer; Ross and Floros
WP: Ross (15-7); LP: Robinson (10-12)