April 24, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -
The San Diego State softball team broke open a close game with six runs in the fourth inning en route to a 10-4 victory over New Mexico Friday night in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aztecs improved to 30-14 on the season, their ninth 30-win campaign over the past 10 years, and 7-1 in Mountain West Conference play, while UNM dropped to 11-30 and 2-7.
SDSU had 11 hits in the game, its third consecutive double-digit hit game, and stranded 10 New Mexico baserunners.
San Diego State, which managed only three hits off Lobo pitcher Danielle Castro in a 3-1 loss on April 12 in San Diego, equaled that total off Castro in the very first inning. Junior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) and freshman Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS) got things going with back-to-back singles and senior All-American Erin Floros (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) finished it with a three-run home run to left field. It was Floros' 12th homer of her career, moving her into a tie for third place on the program's all-time list with Janna Kovensky (2001-04).
New Mexico, however, threatened in the bottom half of the first frame after getting Cristin Anderson and Analise Rubalcava on with consecutive singles. On the next play, Rubalcava was called out at second on runner's interference, which allowed Anderson to move to third and Hughes to reach first with the single. Katie Gilmore followed with a hot shot that looked to get through the middle. Aztec sophomore shortstop Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.), however, made a diving stop to her left and tossed the ball to sophomore Jessica Camello (Temecula, Calif.) at second to get Hughes with the forceout as Anderson was unable to score on the play. Sophomore Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) ended the threat by getting Shaunte Duarte to pop-up weekly to Wisneski.
The score would remain 3-0 until the third as SDSU pinch runner Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego/Morse HS) took advantage of an overthrow by Lobo shortstop Tianna George on a double play attempt. Quichocho-Rosario, who was on second base replacing senior Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS) after a single, raced around third and scored before the New Mexico defense could tag redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) on a long rundown play.
In the bottom of the third, Beasley walked Gilmore with the bases loaded and one out to score Shenise Cox, who had led of the frame with a single. Beasley buckled down to get out of the inning by retiring Shaunte Duarte (flyout) and Jessica Lujan-Dresslar (popout), leaving three runners stranded.
San Diego State put the game out of reach in the fourth by scoring six runs, all unearned off Castro and reliever Rubalcava. The key error came with two outs and the bases loaded as Casillas hit a ball through the legs of Duarte, which allowed Reifschneider and Knudsen to score, and move Floros to third. Following a walk to senior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.), redshirt senior Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz.) laced a triple down the right field line to clear the bases. Immediately after the triple, the first of her career, Sidoti scored on a wild pitch to put the Aztecs in double-digits.
George kept the Lobos away from the mercy rule in the bottom-half of the inning with an RBI single that plated Duarte. The run came off SDSU reliever Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.), ending her scoreless streak at 32 1/3 innings.
Erin Brandow homered in the seventh for New Mexico in the final run of the game.
Floros finished the game with two hits, two runs and three RBI to pace the offense, while Sidoti drove in three and walked twice. Knudsen (2-for-4, double, walk) and Reifschneider (1-for-2, walk) each scored two runs.
Micetich was credited with her 14th consecutive victory after allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 3 1/3 innings of relief. She struck out one and is now 16-4 on the year. Beasley gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out two.
The Aztecs will play Colorado State at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo.