April 10, 2008
No. 18/21 SDSU 3, Utah 2
Utah 1, No. 18/21 SDSU 0 | Photo Gallery
SAN DIEGO -
Game 1: No. 18/21 SDSU 3, Utah 0
Game 2: Utah 1, No. 18/21 SDSU 0
The No. 18/21 San Diego State softball team split a pair of one-run games against Utah Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (30-11, 3-1 Mountain West Conference) took the first game, 3-2, but dropped the nightcap, 1-0.
In the first game, senior Megan McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) plated junior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) with a two-out, walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give SDSU a 3-2 victory over the Utes (20-19, 3-3 MWC).
In the decisive inning, McCorkle singled up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS). Following a fly out to center field, McDonald took the first pitch she saw and laced it to left for the game-winner.
San Diego State took a 2-0 lead in the first on one hit and four walks. Senior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) got the Aztecs' first run when she scored from third on a passed ball. Later in the inning, redshirt junior Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz.) drew a bases loaded walk on five pitches to plate Floros for the team's second run of the game.
Utah, however, responded with a run in both the third and fourth inning. In the third, Angie Boardman knocked home Diana Phillips with a single to left field. The Utes added a solo run in the fourth when Devina Quintero, who doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame, scored on an Andrea Hoffman single up the middle.
The game would remain 2-2 until McDonald's seventh inning heroics.
McCorkle and McDonald each went 2-for-2 to lead the SDSU offense. McCorkle also drew two walks, while McDonald had one.
Senior Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.) improved to 19-8 on the season after scattering two runs on seven hits over seven innings. She struck out seven with issuing a walk.
In the nightcap, the Utes' Ashley Smuda (12-9) kept San Diego State off-balanced all night with just one hit and four walks allowed. She struck out eight and stayed out of any danger until the seventh inning.
In the seventh, McCorkle tripled to left-center with one out to break up the no-hitter and get the Aztecs within range of tying the game. Floros drew a walk on a 3-2 count and was replaced at first by sophomore Katy Erickson (Tustin, Calif.), who then stole second. Following a strikeout, Utah pitched around McDonald to load the bases with two outs, giving SDSU a chance for its second walkoff hit of the night. However, Sidoti's hard grounder was snagged by Utah second baseman Staci Hemingway and flipped to shortstop Sharee Fonoti for the force out at second, ending the game at 1-0 in favor of the Utes.
Utah got its lone run in the fourth when Hoffman's single scored Kristie Keller from second.
Freshman Brooke Petty (San Diego, Calif./Vista HS) (5-1) pitched well but took the loss after yielding the one run on four hits and a walk. She also struck out four over four innings of work. Classmate Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) came into relieve Petty and gave up one hit while striking out two over the final three innings.
San Diego State will continue its six-game homestand to open up conference play with a single game against Brigham Young at 6 p.m. Friday.