April 5, 2007
Brigham Young 4, San Diego State 0
Brigham Young 4, San Diego State 2
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team gave up late runs in both games as it was swept in a doubleheader by Brigham Young Thursday at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (23-14, 0-2 Mountain West Conference) allowed four runs in the top of the eighth to fall in the first game, 4-0, and gave up three runs over the final two innings to drop a 4-2 decision in the nightcap.
In the first game, junior pitcher Christina Ross (15-7) continued her dominance of late, keeping the Cougars (20-14, 2-0 MWC) hitless over six innings until Emi Snow singled to center to lead off the seventh. The hit broke Ross' 12 2/3 innings of hitless ball. After Jodi Norton followed with a single and Angeline Quiocho walked two batters later to load the bases with one out, SDSU junior Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS) got Ross out of a jam when she caught Daniela Snow's lineout and raced back to third to complete the double play.
BYU didn't waste another chance in the eighth, however, as it scored all four of its runs with two outs on a three-run homer by Emi Snow and solo shot by Norton.
The Aztecs' best chance to score in the game came in the fourth inning when sophomore Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) and Casillas each hit a pair of two-out singles to put a runner in scoring position. Sophomore Kasey Mytinger (San Diego/West Hills HS) followed with a single to right but Emi Snow's throw from right got Alnes out at home.
Freshman Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) also had a hit for SDSU, which left nine runners on base in the game.
Ross tossed all eight innings and allowed four runs on five hits. She struck out two and walked four.
In the nightcap, the Aztecs took a 2-1 lead in the third when freshman pinch-runner Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego/Morse HS) scored from third when Alnes was thrown out trying to steal second base.
Brigham Young tied the game in the sixth when Courtney Nix-Clark's sacrifice fly scored Jennifer Whiteley. The Cougars scored two more in the seventh after Whiteley's bunt single scored pinch-runner Jana Anderson from third and Monica Gonzales scored when Whiteley was caught trying to steal second base.
Knudsen hit a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh but a groundout by junior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) ended the game for SDSU.
Sophomore Melissa Owens (San Diego/Christian HS) doubled and drew two walks for the Aztecs, while Alnes and Mytinger each singled for the second consecutive game.
Owens (8-7) scattered six hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings to take the loss for SDSU. She struck out nine and walked four.
San Diego State hopes to get back on track this weekend, when it plays host to Utah at 6 p.m. Friday and again at noon Saturday.