Feb. 27, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
No. 20/21 SDSU Softball Takes on Eastern Michigan; Co-Hosts San Diego Classic I This Weekend
The No. 20/21 San Diego State softball team will look to continue its second-best start in school history when it takes on Eastern Michigan and co-hosts the San Diego Classic I this weekend.
Aztec Quick Hits
- The Aztecs moved up in each of the national polls after defeating two-time defending NCAA champion Arizona and No. 3/2 Northwestern over the weekend. SDSU is now ranked No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, up from No. 25 the previous week, and No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA poll. Both are the highest rankings in the program's 32-year history.
- SDSU is off to an 11-4 record to begin the 2008 campaign, its second-best start to a season in school history. Only the 2006 squad, which went on to finish 34-15 with its best record in program history, had a better start at 12-3.
- The Aztecs' Brittany Knudsen (San Diego, Calif./Escondido HS) and Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif./Univ. of Kansas) were named the Mountain West Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday. Knudsen batted a team-best .500 over the weekend, while Ross was 2-2 with a 0.60 ERA.
- San Diego State continues to play and do well against the best teams in the nation. SDSU is currently 6-4 against 2007 NCAA tournament teams and 2-1 versus 2007 Women's College World Series squads.
- Through 15 games, the SDSU pitching staff is 11-4 with a league-low 0.82 team ERA, despite arguably playing the toughest competition of any Mountain West school. The trio of Ross (7-3, 0.55 ERA), and freshmen Samantha Beasley (2-1, 1.02 ERA) and Brooke Petty (2-0, 1.56 ERA) has a combined six shutouts, including three against 2007 NCAA tournament teams.
- Tamani Wells, Tonye McCorkle and Brittany Knudsen have started every game in the outfield for San Diego State. Erin Floros is the only other Aztec to start in every game.
- This year's Aztec squad may be one of the deepest in school history. Everyone from senior pitcher Christina Ross to each of the freshmen have been contributing.
GAME #16: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN (3-6, 0-0 MAC)
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
All-Time Record vs. Eastern Michigan: 2-0
Last Meeting vs. Eastern Michigan: Feb. 28, 1998 - SDSU won, 7-0
GAME #17: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. SAINT PETER'S (0-0, 0-0 MEAC)
When: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
All-Time Record vs. Saint Peter's: First meeting
GAME #18: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. HARVARD (0-0, 0-0 IVY)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
All-Time Record vs. Harvard: 1-0
Last Meeting: March 9, 2003 - SDSU won, 8-1
GAME #19: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. No. 4/7 UCLA (13-2, 0-0 Pac-10)
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
All-Time Record vs. UCLA: 0-45
Last Meeting: May 21, 2006 - SDSU lost, 7-0
GAME #20: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. EASTERN MICHIGAN
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
GAME #21: No. 20/21 SAN DIEGO STATE (11-4, 0-0 MWC) vs. (rv/rv) OREGON (9-7, 0-0 Pac-10)
When: 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 2
Where: SDSU Softball Stadium
Live Stats:
All-Time Record vs. Oregon: 6-11
Last Meeting: Feb. 24, 2007 - SDSU lost, 3-2