March 14, 2008
No. 23/25 SDSU 2, Cal State Fullerton 1 (9 innings)
No. 23/25 SDSU 6, New Mexico State 0
SAN DIEGO - The No. 23/25 San Diego State softball team picked up a pair of wins Friday night on the first day of the San Diego Classic II at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs, who are tied for their best start in school history at 21-8, defeated Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, in nine innings before posting a 6-0 triumph of New Mexico State in the nightcap.
In the first game, freshman Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.) plated sophomore Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) with a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give SDSU a 2-1 victory over the Titans (14-11-1).
Junior Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) had given San Diego State an early 1-0 lead when her two-out double scored sophomore Brittany Knudsen (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) from third base.
However, Cal State Fullerton came through with a run of its own in the fourth after Torrie Anderson's double allowed Lauren Lupinetti to score all the way from first.
Neither team would score again until Winseski's game-winning hit in the ninth. Marquez led off the frame with her second hit of the night and moved to second on senior Megan McDonald's (Glendale, Ariz.) sacrifice bunt. Three batters later, Wisneski ripped a 2-1 pitch into the left field to score Marquez and give the Aztecs their 12th win over a 2007 NCAA opponent.
Senior Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.) put together another impressive performance in the circle for SDSU as she allowed one run on seven hits over nine innings. She struck out 10 without a walk and improved to 12-7 on the season.
In the nightcap, San Diego State put up four runs over the first two innings and backed another fine outing by freshman pitcher Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) in a 6-0 shutout over the Aggies (13-19).
Knudsen got things rolling for the Aztecs when she led off the game with a triple. Following an infield single by senior Tamani Wells and subsequent stolen base by the Concord, Calif., native, junior Tonye McCorkle singled home Knudsen. Wells and McCorkle would also score on the play for SDSU after an errant throw by the New Mexico State catcher went all the way to the center field wall.
In the second inning, Knudsen's team-leading second sacrifice fly of the season scored junior Christine Kulick (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), putting San Diego State up, 4-0.
The Aztecs would get up by five by the fifth inning when, with redshirt junior Dani Sidoti at the plate, Wells scored on a throwing error by the Aggies' shortstop.
Beasley's two-out single in the seventh plated sophomore Katy Erickson (Tustin, Calif.) for SDSU's final run of the night.
The six runs would be plenty for Beasley (5-1), who picked up the win in the circle after striking out four against one walk in seven innings, while giving up just six hits.
Wells' two-hit, two-run performance led the way for the offense, while McCorkle and Beasley each drove in a run.
San Diego State will continue its play in the San Diego Classic II with two tough games on Saturday. The Aztecs will take on No. 25/rv Long Beach State at 4:30 p.m. before facing No. 5/5 Texas A&M at 7 p.m.