April 2, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Two first inning unearned runs cost the San Diego State softball team in a 3-2 upset loss at San Diego Friday night at USD Complex. The Aztecs dropped to 21-10 on the season and 47-3 all-time against the Toreros (11-17). It was USD's first win at home against SDSU in 27 tries.
San Diego State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after putting together a two-out rally. Senior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by the San Diego third baseman. Sophomore Justeen Maeva (San Diego/Mira Mesa HS/Cal State Bakersfield) followed with a triple to the gap in center field.
The Toreros answered with two runs, both unearned, off Aztec starter Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) in the bottom of the first and another in the third. Celeste Soto and Carey Casciola singled in the first inning scores, while Jennifer Ellenbeck singled in the run in the third, the lone earned run in the game off Micetich (2-4).
SDSU tried to rally in the fifth as sophomore Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS) led off with a single. Three batters later, Maeva came through once again with a double to center, bringing the visitors to within a run at 3-2.
San Diego State would get no closer, however, stranding Reifschneider on first base with one out in the seventh to end the game.
Maeva drove in both runs with a double and a triple, while Reifschneider and Knudsen each had two hits and a run scored. The rest of the Aztec lineup combined to go 0-for-14 with three players - redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.), junior Eva Sahatdjian (Fresno, Calif.) and junior Traci Wolf (Lancaster, Calif.) - drawing walks.
Micetich took the loss after yielding three runs (one earned) on six hits over three innings. Junior Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) didn't allow a hit over three innings of relief, while striking out five with two walks.
On the other side of the circle, USD's Ellenbeck improved to 8-8 after scattering two runs on six hits and three walks. She had six strikeouts.
The same two teams will meet tomorrow at SDSU Softball Stadium, beginning at 1 p.m.
San Diego 3, San Diego State 2 San Diego State (21-10) 100 010 0 -- 2 6 1 San Diego (11-17) 201 000 x -- 3 6 1 Micetich, Beasley (4) and Sahatdjian; Ellenbeck and Hensley Win: Ellenbeck (8-8); Loss: Micetich (2-4)