March 7, 2008
Pacific 4, No. 17/21 SDSU 1
San Diego 6, No. 17/21 SDSU 5
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 17/21 San Diego State softball team dropped a pair of games on the first day of the Diamond Devil Invitational Friday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz. The Aztecs (17-7) lost a 4-1 affair to Pacific before falling to San Diego, 6-5, for just the second time in 45 meetings.
SDSU had 16 hits over the two games, but left a combined 17 runners on base.
In the first game, the Tigers (10-12) scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning, thanks to an RBI single by Lauren Weyman and, two batters later, a two-run single by Nicole Matson. Pacific added another run in the fifth when Karie Wilson's two-out single scored Kellee Wilson from third.
A solo home run by senior Megan McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) in the sixth got San Diego State on the scoreboard. It was her first of the season and 13th of her career, moving her into sole possession of second place on the school's all-time home run list, four behind Erryn Gutjahr's 17 from 1996-99.
The Aztecs, however, were unable to get any more runs across, after earlier leaving two stranded with one out in the first and third innings.
Freshman Jessica Camello (Temecula, Calif.) had a double for the second consecutive game, while senior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) and junior Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) each added singles.
Senior Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.) (10-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over six innings. She did finish the game with eight strikeouts.
In the second contest, SDSU suffered its first loss this season against a non-2007 NCAA tournament team in a 6-5 setback against the Toreros (8-13). San Diego State outhit San Diego, 12-8, but tied its season high with 11 runners left on base.
Things started out good for the Aztecs when they plated two in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Brittany Knudsen (San Diego, Calif./Escondido HS) led off the game with a walk and stole second. Wells reached on a throwing error by San Diego shortstop Carey Casciola and each moved up a base on junior Tonye McCorkle's fielder's choice sacrifice bunt. Floros followed with a single to right and, two batters later, McDonald singled down the left field line to put San Diego State up, 2-0.
The Toreros responded with four in the fourth, highlighted by an RBI double by Kathleen Bonja, a bases loaded walk to Kristen Gensler and a two-run double by Casciola.
The Aztecs tied the game in their half of the inning after scoring two runs on three hits. Redshirt junior Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz.) doubled to lead of the frame and moved to third on a wild pitch. Following an infield single by freshman Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.), Sidoti scored from third on Knudsen's fielder's choice bunt. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly by Floros scored Knudsen for their fourth run of the game.
SDSU appeared to take the lead for good in the fifth after Wisneski doubled off the left field wall to score sophomore pinch-runner Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego, Calif./Morse HS) from second.
A pair of singles in the sixth by Gensler and Celeste Soto, however, gave San Diego the win.
Sophomore Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) tied her career-high with three hits, while Wells, Sidoti and Wisneski each added two hits apiece.
Ross took her second loss of the day after giving up two runs on four hits over three innings. Freshman Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) started the game for San Diego State and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Freshman Brooke Petty (San Diego, Calif./Vista HS) (0 2/3 innings, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB) also pitched for the Aztecs.
SDSU continues its play in the Diamond Devil Invitational tomorrow (Saturday) when it takes on UC Davis at 9 a.m. and the host and No. 1/1 Arizona State at 3:30 p.m.