March 18, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
The No. 22/25 San Diego State softball team rode the arm and bat of freshman Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) in a 7-3 victory over San Diego Tuesday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs, who avenged a 6-5 loss in Tempe, Ariz., on March 7, improved to 24-9 with the victory, while the Toreros dropped to 12-20.
In the circle, Beasley struck out a career-high 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings to improve to 6-1 on the season. She scattered three runs on eight hits and two walks, although all three runs came in the top of the seventh inning as did four of the hits and one of the walks.
At the plate, Beasley hit a grand slam in SDSU's five-run fifth to break open a 3-0 game. It was her first career home run and first grand slam by a San Diego State player since April 14, 2007, when Megan McDonald hit one at New Mexico. It was the first grand slam by an Aztec at SDSU Softball Stadium since Monica Alnes did the deed against Fordham on March 16, 2007.
Beasley led a balanced offensive attack as eight players had one hit apiece, while 11 different Aztecs reached base.
Junior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) scored twice for San Diego State, while junior Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) each drove in a run.
SDSU used a bit of speed and some help from the San Diego defense to get its first run in the first inning. Senior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) reached base on a fielding error and the stole second. Following a groundout to the Torero pitcher, Floros took a 1-0 pitch to the right-center field to plate Wells for the first run of the contest.
After leaving the bases loaded in the second, San Diego State made the best of its opportunity in the third. McCorkle drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed over by Floros. Following a single by sophomore Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.), McDonald lofted a long fly ball to left field which scored McCorkle and put the Aztecs up, 2-0.
In the big five-run fifth, Wells (single), McCorkle (single) and Floros (walk) loaded the bases with no outs. Following a force out at the plate, McDonald reached on a fielder's choice that the Torero pitcher mishandled, allowing Wells to score from third. On the ensuing play, Beasley belted a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence to give SDSU a commanding 7-0 lead.
Beasley was one out away from a shutout until San Diego finally got to her in the seventh. Carey Casciola hit a one-out double and, following a three-pitch strikeout to Celine Pujol, scored on a single by Celeste Soto. Lindsey Fleet then homered to center to bring the Toreros within four runs. Following a single and a walk, Beasley was replaced by senior Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.). Ross, who was named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week earlier in the day, then retired Nichole Valenzuela on a two-pitch groundout to Marquez at second base.
SDSU is back in action this weekend when it travels to Fullerton, Calif., to compete in the prestigious Judy Garman Classic. The Aztecs will play No. 6/6 Michigan (1:30 p.m. Friday), two 2007 Women's College World Series opponents in No. 19/18 Washington (8 p.m. Thursday) and No. 18/14 DePaul (6 p.m. Friday), and Big Ten foe Illinois at 9 a.m. Saturday.