April 25, 2009
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -
The San Diego State softball team rallied from an early two-run deficit with nine unanswered scores en route to an 11-5 victory over Colorado State Saturday afternoon in Fort Collins, Colo. It was the eighth consecutive road win for the Aztecs, who improved to 31-14 on the season and 8-1 in Mountain West Conference play.
SDSU, which is receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball national polls, has now won 13 of its last 14 games, 20 of its last 23, 22 of its last 26 and 26 of its last 32 contests.
San Diego State banged out 13 hits on the afternoon, its fourth straight game with at least 10 hits. Redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) was one of five Aztecs to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored, while junior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) added two doubles and two RBI. Sophomore Jessica Camello (Temecula, Calif.) (two RBI, run), redshirt senior Dani Sidoti (Tucson, Ariz.) (two runs, RBI) and senior All-American Erin Floros (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) (walk) added two hits apiece. In addition, senior Tonye McCorkle (Santa Ana Heights, Calif.) and redshirt senior Taryin Casillas (San Diego/Grossmont HS) stretched their hitting streak to 12 and nine games, respectively, with one hit each.
Freshman Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) picked up her school-record 15th straight victory after allowing one earned run on seven hits (six singles) and three walks over seven innings. She struck out four and is now 17-4 on the season, the best mark in Aztec history.
After a scoreless first inning, San Diego State pounced on the Rams (21-22, 4-5 MWC) with two runs in the second. Sidoti singled and moved to second on a sacrifice by Alnes. On the play, Colorado State pitcher Kim Klabough overthrew the first baseman, which allowed both runners to move into scoring position with no outs. Both runners would score on the ensuing two plays (RBI single by Camello and RBI sac bunt by Wisneski), giving the Aztecs the early 2-0 lead.
A pair of errors by SDSU's Casillas at third base in the bottom half of the frame led to four Ram runs, all which were unearned off Micetich. The big inning was highlighted by a bases loaded triple by Christine Thomsen.
San Diego State rallied for a three-spot in the third with the first run coming on a double steal by junior pinch runners Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego/Morse HS) and Katy Erickson (Tustin, Calif.). Alnes switched places with Erickson at second with a double and scored on another single by Camello, giving the lead back to the Aztecs at 5-4.
The game would remain 5-4 until the seventh, when SDSU exploded four six runs on five hits and two walks. Highlighting the big inning was a two-run double by Knudsen and an RBI double by Alnes. McCorkle, Sidoti and freshman Ashley Rose (Antioch, Calif.) chipped in with run-scoring singles.
Colorado State put up a solo run in the final frame on Thomsen's third hit and fourth RBI of the game, which scored Caitlan Stem. It was the only earned run charged to Micetich in the game.
San Diego State will conclude its regular season league schedule Sunday with a game against Colorado State at 1 p.m. MT.