March 14, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
Redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) capped a five-run fifth inning with a three-run homer to give the San Diego State softball team a 5-3 victory over No. 21/25 Illinois Sunday at the Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbia, Mo. It was the seventh consecutive victory for the Aztecs (15-8), which also snapped a 10-game winning streak by the Illini (16-2). SDSU's later game against No. 3/3 Missouri was canceled due to inclement weather, the team's fourth cancellation over the weekend.
Meredith Hackett had given Illinois a 1-0 lead with a one-out homer in the top of the fourth inning. It was the first run allowed by San Diego State junior pitcher Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) in 33 2/3 innings dating back to the Feb. 26 game against No. 24/19 Texas A&M.
The Aztecs answered in the fifth with a one-out rally. Junior Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.) got things going with a double to center field and classmate Jessica Camello (Temecula, Calif.) followed with a single to left. Freshman Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.) plated Wisneski with a pinch-hit single to left field and was replaced back at first by sophomore Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS). Senior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) ripped a double to left to score Camello with the go-ahead run. Alnes then took a 3-1 pitch over the fence for a three-run home run, her 10th of her career.
Kelley Wedel's two-run homer in the sixth brought the Illini to within one run at 5-3.
SDSU tried to answer it in the bottom half of the sixth after loading the bases with one out. Illinois relief pitcher Pepper Gay, however, got out of the jam by getting a fielder's choice groundout and a strikeout to end the threat.
The Illini made things interesting in the seventh after loading the bases on a hit and two walks with two outs. Beasley (11-5) settled down and got Jessica Davis to foul out to left field, ending the game in favor of San Diego State.
Camello's two hits led the Aztec offense. Beasley went the distance, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks. She struck out seven for her sixth consecutive victory.
SDSU plays host to its final tournament of the season, the San Diego Classic II, this weekend at SDSU Softball Stadium. San Diego State kicks things off Thursday (March 18) against nationally ranked Massachusetts at 7 p.m. PT.
San Diego State 5, No. 21/25 Illinois 3 Illinois (16-2) 000 102 0 -- 3 7 2 San Diego State (15-8) 000 050 x -- 5 7 0 Perry, Gay (5) and Gallien; Beasley and Sahatdjian Win: Beasley (11-5); Loss: Perry (8-2) HR: Alnes (SDSU) (1), Wedel (ILL) (3), Hackett (ILL (2)