April 9, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Junior Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) stretched her scoreless streak to 30 innings with 11 strikeouts over five and senior Brittany Knudsen (San Diego/Escondido HS) drove in a pair of runs to lead the San Diego State softball team to a 7-2 victory over New Mexico Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs improved to 23-10 and 1-0 in the Mountain West Conference, while the Lobos dropped to 10-21 and 0-1.
SDSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead through four innings and never looked back en route to its seventh win in eight tries over UNM.
Beasley (18-6) allowed two hits and a walk over the five frames to pick up her fifth consecutive decision. Beasley, who hasn't given up a run since March 21 against No. 22/20 Texas A&M, now has 228 strikeouts in 138 2/3 innings this season, bettering last year's total of 227, which was done over 188 innings. The 228 strikeouts are the second-most in a season in school history and trail only Christina Ross' 275 set in 2008 (over 293 2/3 innings).
Sophomore Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks.
The pitching staff was helped by an 11-hit performance by the San Diego State offense, including two each by Knudsen, redshirt senior Monica Alnes (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) and junior Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.). Knudsen added two runs, two RBIs and a walk, while Wisneski scored twice and Alnes once.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Justeen Maeva (San Diego/Mira Mesa/Cal State Bakersfield) singled home Knudsen and later scored on a throwing error by the New Mexico third baseman.
SDSU tacked on a pair of runs in the second as Wisneski and freshman Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) got into scoring position with two outs on back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS). Wisneski scored on a wild pitch before Knudsen singled for San Diego State's fourth run of the game.
Alnes led off the third with a double to center field. One batter later, freshman Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) laced a singled up the middle to put the Aztecs up, 5-0.
In the fourth, Wisneski singled to left and advanced to third and a pair of wild pitches. Knudsen came through once again with a single through the right side.
The Lobos finally got on the board in the sixth when Katie Gilmore singled home Cristin Anderson, who had walked.
SDSU answered in the seventh as Knudsen's long, high fly ball was dropped by the UNM centerfielder. Hustling all the way, Knudsen scored easily for the team's final run of the game.
New Mexico ended the scoring with a solo home run by Shenise Cox in the seventh.
San Diego State plays host to Colorado State at 6 p.m. Saturday.
San Diego State 7, New Mexico 2 New Mexico (10-21, 0-1 MWC) 000 001 1 -- 2 4 2 San Diego State (23-10, 1-0 MWC) 221 101 x -- 7 11 0 Gatson, DeBroeck (4) and Garcia; Beasley, Micetich (6) and Kr. May Win: Beasley (18-6); Loss: Gatson (3-8) HR: Cox (UNM) (1)