Feb. 24, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Two errors cost the San Diego State softball team in a 5-4, eight-inning loss to Cal State Northridge Wednesday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs dropped to 7-4 with their third consecutive loss, while the Matadors improved to 2-9.
SDSU had rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three runs in the fifth. The score remained 4-4 until the top of the eighth when CSUN took advantage of San Diego State's second costly error of the game. After back-to-back singles by Christina Saenz and Jaci Carlsen with one out, Jennifer Mosier popped up a foul ball behind the plate that was dropped by the Aztec catcher. Mosier made the most of her second chance, singling up the middle to give Cal State Northridge the 5-4 lead.
SDSU tried to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the inning as leadoff batter Eva Sahatdjian (Fresno, Calif.) laced a ball into right field. Mosier was there in right to run down the ball and make the catch with her outstretched glove. Junior Traci Wolf (Lancaster, Calif.) followed with a triple off the right-center fence to give San Diego State some hope. Sophomore Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS), however, grounded out to the pitcher, who threw home to get Wolf in a rundown. Reifschneider advanced to second on the play, but was caught in a rundown of her own between second and third, ending the game in favor of the Matadors.
The Aztecs took the early lead in the second when Sahatdjian's single scored pinch runner Roshana Lavery (San Diego/Mission Bay HS) from second base. Sahatdjian, who had moved to second on the throw home, was replaced by senior Stefanie Quichocho-Rosario (San Diego/Morse HS). With two runners in scoring position, SDSU went 1-2-3 with a strikeout looking, a fielder's choice play at home and a lineout.
CSUN answered in the third when a San Diego State fielding error loaded the bases with two outs for Carlsen. Carlsen cleared the bases with a double to center field to put Cal State Northridge in front, 3-1.
The Matadors tacked on another run in the fifth on an RBI double by Christina Saenz.
The Aztecs tied it in the bottom of the fifth when senior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) singled home Wolf and Reifschneider. Pinch hitter Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) followed with a sacrifice fly to the outfield grass that allowed junior Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.) to score.
SDSU left five runners on base the rest of the way in the 5-4 loss.
Junior Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) was the tough luck loser after allowing an unearned run on four hits and a walk over four innings of relief. She struck out 10 batters to move into a tie for fourth (Robyn Reid, 1983-85) on the all-time San Diego State strikeout list with 361.
Sophomore Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) got the start and gave up four runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out two.
Wolf continued to swing the hot bat, going 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Aztec offense. She is now 7-for-12 (.583) on the season. Six others had one hit apiece, including sophomore Justeen Maeva (San Diego/Mira Mesa HS/Cal State Bakersfield), who also drew two walks.
SDSU begins its play in the Cathedral City Classic tomorrow (Thursday) with games against No. 12/9 Oklahoma (3:30 p.m. PT) and Fordham (6 p.m. PT).