Feb. 23, 2007
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team had a season-high 13 hits and sophomore pitcher Melissa Owens (San Diego/Christian HS) picked up her third win of the season in a 9-1, five-inning victory over North Dakota State Friday on the first day of the Aztec Invitational at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (6-5) won for the fifth time in the last six games, while the Bison, who defeated 2006 NCAA participant Long Beach State, 2-0, earlier in the day, fell to 11-2.
Freshman Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) went 3-for-3 to continue her hot start to the season. Knudsen, who is batting .520 (13-for-25) in her first year on The Mesa, also scored twice for SDSU, which scored all nine of its runs in the final three innings.
Freshman Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) had a double, three runs and two RBI, while Owens helped herself at the plate with two singles, two runs scored and two RBI. Senior Amanda Beasley (San Diego/Mount Miguel HS) was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run, and sophomore Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) went 2-for-3 with a double.
Junior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) (two RBI), junior Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS) (one RBI) and sophomore Erin Floros (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) (one RBI) each added singles for the Aztecs, who have outscored their opponents, 35-6, in their six wins this season.
Owens struck out seven over five innings to improve to 3-3 on the season. She gave up one unearned run on just two hits and did not issue a walk in the game.
SDSU continues its play in the Aztec Invitational with two games on Saturday afternoon. The Aztecs play Siena (0-2) at 11:30 a.m. and meet No. 25 Oregon (12-1) at 4:30 p.m.