March 15, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Cal State Northridge pushed across a run in the top of the seventh that proved to be the decider as it defeated San Diego State, 3-2, in the final game of the San Diego Classic II tournament at the SDSU Softball Field on Sunday. The outcome ended the Aztecs' seven-game win streak as their record dropped to 18-12. With the win, CSUN improved to 18-9.
San Diego State opened the scoring in its first at bat, tallying a single run without the benefit of a hit. Brittany Knudsen led off with a walk and went to second as Felicia Reifschneider reached on a fielding error. Both runners moved up a base on Erin Floros' sac bunt before Knudsen scored when Taryin Casillas was safe on a fielder's choice.
SDSU starting pitcher Samantha Beasley sailed through the first two innings, but ran into trouble in the third when the visitors put a pair of runs on the board on two hits and an error. That 2-1 lead stood until the bottom of the fifth when the Aztecs came back to tie the game.
Reifschneider began that fifth inning rally by reaching on an error and going to second on a sacrifice bunt by Floros. Casillas then singled through the right side of the infield to bring home Reifschneider with the tying run.
The Matadors' game-winning run in the top of the seventh came courtesy of a single by Kristen Mihm to open the frame and a two-out RBI base hit later in the inning off the bat of Jaclyn Rymer. That made a loser of Beasley, who saw her record fall to 9-8 on the year.
In the bottom of the seventh, CSUN starter Deborah Duran finished off her complete-game win by getting the side in order on a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to second. Duran, who allowed the Aztecs only two hits on the afternoon, improved to 13-5.
Up next for San Diego State is a doubleheader against Texas Tech on Tuesday, March 17, at the SDSU Softball Field. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. (PT).