May 9, 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -
The No. 19/21 San Diego State softball team clinched at least a share of the Mountain West Conference title with a 9-0, five-inning victory over UNLV Friday night in Las Vegas, Nev. It was the school-record 42nd win of the season for the Aztecs, who remain one game ahead of second-place Brigham Young (13-6) with a 14-5 record in league play.
Backed by another strong outing from senior pitcher Christina Ross (Santa Clarita, Calif.), SDSU banged out a season-high 15 hits on the night.
Ross, who was named the MWC Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for the league-leading eighth time this season on Tuesday, tossed a complete game one-hitter. She struck out five and walked two to improve to 29-12 on the season.
Senior Megan McDonald (Glendale, Ariz.) led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 outing and added a run and a RBI, while junior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
San Diego State also received multi-hit games from senior Tamani Wells (Concord, Calif.) (2-for-3, 3 R), sophomore Brittany Knudsen (San Diego, Calif./Escondido HS) (2-for-3, 2 R, BB), sophomore Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) (2-for-3) and freshman Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.) (2-for-3).
In addition, freshman Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) singled and drove in three runs, while juniors Erin Floros (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS) and Christine Kulick (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) each added an RBI apiece.
Despite leaving 11 runners on base, their second-most all season, the Aztecs put up runs in four of the five innings, including two in the first, one in the third, four in the fourth and two in the fifth.
SDSU stays in Las Vegas for its final regular season game on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. San Diego State will clinch the MWC title outright tomorrow with a win or a Brigham Young loss (at New Mexico).
NOTES: SDSU set a school record with its 42nd victory of the season ... San Diego State clinched a share of the MWC title with the victory, its fourth regular season conference championship over the last seven seasons ... The Aztecs are now 8-3 (.727) on the road this season, on pace for their best road record in school history ... San Diego State is now 5-0 in May, 37-3 when scoring first, 18-2 when scoring in the first inning, 27-5 in night games and 16-4 on Friday ... LHP Christina Ross started for the 92nd time in her three-year career to tie Karen McCormick (1991-94) and Michelle Wesson (1988-91) for second in school history ... It was also Ross' 27th career shutout, leaving her one behind Sandra Durazo (1998-2001) for the most in a career ... With tonight's victory, Ross is one shy of Durazo's 30 set in 2001 ... 1B Erin Floros recorded her 38th RBI of the season, which ties her with Tiffany Goudy (2002) for second-most in a single-season ... RF Brittany Knudsen scored twice to move into a tie with three others for fourth on the single-season list with 37 runs ... She also drew her 26th walk of the season, tied with Janna Kovensky (2004) for third on the school's list.