March 24, 2007
FULLERTON, Calif. - Senior Amanda Beasley (San Diego/Mount Miguel HS) hit her first career home run in the top of the eighth inning to lift the San Diego State softball team to a 3-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Saturday. The Aztecs, who fell to Ohio State, 5-4, earlier in the day, improved to 22-12 with the victory. The Titans (17-14), who are receiving votes in both national polls, also earned a split on the day after defeating the Buckeyes, 5-4, in eight innings earlier.
Beasley's homer, the first in her four-year career, cleared the bushes some 40 feet past the left field wall. SDSU has now won nine of its last 10 games.
After two scoreless innings, SDSU got on the scoreboard in the top of the third thanks to a little small ball. Sophomore Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz.) led off the inning with a hard single through the left side and moved to second on a fielder's choice bunt by Beasley. Freshman Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) moved both runners up a base with another sacrifice and junior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score Sidoti and give the Aztecs an early 1-0 advantage.
Cal State Fullerton tied it in the fourth with a solo home run to left by Lauren Lupinetti.
SDSU took back the one-run lead in the sixth when junior Megan McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) laced a double off the left field wall to score sophomore pitcher Melissa Owens (San Diego/Christian HS) from first. Owens, however, was injured on the headfirst slide home and was replaced in the circle by junior Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.).
The Titans tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Aztec third baseman Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS) committed a fielding error, allowing Jenna Wheeler to score from third base.
Beasley answered in the top of the eighth to propel SDSU to the win.
Ross (14-6) allowed only one hit and one unearned run over the final three innings of relief to pick up the win for the Aztecs. Owens struck out six in the first five innings and gave up one run on just three hits.
Earlier in the day, SDSU outhit Ohio State (17-13), 11-8, but fell by a score of 5-4.
Knudsen went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Aztecs, while sophomore Kasey Mytinger (San Diego/West Hills HS) (2-for-2, RBI) and Beasley (2-for-3, run) added two hits apiece.
Ross (13-6) took the loss for SDSU after surrendering five runs on seven hits in three innings. She struck out two and walked two. Owens allowed just one hit and one walk, while striking out six over the final four innings.