Feb. 13, 2010
Game 1: SDSU 9, Southern Utah 4 html | pdf
Game 2: SDSU 4, Oregon 3 (8 innings) html | pdf
TEMPE, Ariz. -
Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) hit a bases loaded, two-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the San Diego State softball team a 4-3 victory over Oregon and day three sweep at the Kajikawa Classic Saturday in Tempe, Ariz. In the opener, Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.) had a two-run homer as SDSU knocked off Southern Utah, 9-4.
With the victories, San Diego State improved to 5-0 on the season, its best start since 2005. Of the five wins, four have been against teams receiving votes in either the USA Today/NFCA or ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason polls, while two have been against teams who made the 2009 NCAA tournament.
It was Kristin May's second game-winning hit of the season, after nailing a walkoff two-run home run in the Aztecs' 5-3 season-opening victory over Creighton on Thursday (Feb. 11).
SDSU had taken an early 1-0 lead in the third when sophomore Justeen Maeva's (San Diego/Cal State Bakersfield) single plated sophomore Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS).
Samantha Pappas answered for the Ducks (2-1) when she homered to center field off San Diego State junior pitcher Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS). Beasley had gone 19 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run to start the season.
The score would remain, 1-1, until the international tiebreaker rule came into effect in the top of the eighth inning and Oregon scored two unearned runs. Hannah Baril was placed at second and moved to third when Samantha Skillingshead reached on an Aztec error one batter later. Following a Skillingshead stolen base, Allie Burger doubled to left field to make it 3-1, Ducks.
SDSU senior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) was placed at second to begin the bottom half and moved to third when Reifschneider singled to center and advanced to second. It appeared the two runners in scoring position would stay there when a pair of San Diego State players struck out back-to-back. Maeva, however, battled to draw a walk and was replaced at first base by the speedy senior Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego/Morse HS). Kristin May then delivered with the game-winning double to center field.
Reifschneider singled twice and scored two runs to pace the offense, while Maeva and redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) each singled and drew a walk.
Beasley improved to 4-0 on the young season by scattering three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk over eight innings. She struck out 11 batters and now has 32 this season in 22 1/3 innings.
Earlier in the day, the Aztecs scored a season-high nine runs on 11 hits in a 9-4 triumph over Southern Utah.
Kamerin May went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs to lead the offense, while sophomore Ashley Rose (Antioch, Calif.) had two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Knudsen and freshman Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) each added two hits, an RBI and a run.
Sophomore Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) picked up the win for SDSU after allowing one hit (a home run) over five innings of relief. She struck out eight without issuing a walk. Redshirt sophomore Brooke Petty (San Diego/Vista HS) started the game, but was chased after giving up three runs on three this and three walks over two innings.
San Diego State will wrap up its play in the Kajikawa Classic Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MT (11:30 a.m. PT) with a game against Big 12's Texas Tech.