March 17, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State softball team combined for three runs in the final two innings to overcome a one-run deficit and hold off visiting Harvard, 4-3, in day one action of the San Diego Classic II. With the victory, the Aztecs evened their overall record this season at 13-13, while the Crimson fell to 7-6 following Thursday night's contest at the SDSU Softball Stadium.
Three different San Diego State pitchers saw action with starter Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.) going three innings and giving up two runs, despite allowing only one hit. Junior Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) relieved her with no outs in the fourth inning and ended up picking up the victory to move to 8-7 on the year.
Senior Samantha Beasley (San Diego, Calif.) recorded her third save of 2011, walking one before striking out the final two batters of the game.
The Aztec offense saw five players contribute a hit, including centerfielder Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.), who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Junior first baseman Justeen Maeva (San Diego, Calif.), meanwhile, logged a home run for the second consecutive outing this week with a solo shot, her third of the year.
The two sides managed just one hit through the first three innings, before Maeva's homer to right field on a 2-0 pitch to lead off the fourth inning gave the host the 1-0 edge. The Crimson struck back in the bottom of the inning, getting their first two players on base via a single and a walk and advancing to second and third base on a fielding error by Aztec shortstop Jen Wisneski (Riverside, Calif.). Both runners then came home on a RBI single off the bat of Harvard's Stephanie Regan to put the visitors ahead, 2-1.
After a scoreless fifth frame, San Diego State retook the lead after scoring two runs on a pair of wild pitches from Crimson pitcher Rachel Brown (6-2). The Aztecs then recorded what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the seventh, as Lindsey Marquez (Tustin, Calif.) just beat the throw at the plate on a sacrifice fly from freshman Lorena Klopp (San Diego, Calif.).
Harvard's Jane Alexander got on base with a lead-off double to left field in the bottom of the seventh and eventually came around to score to get to cut the deficit down to one run. Beasley, however, closed out the game with two straight strikeouts to preserve the team's 4-3 win.
The San Diego Classic II, which is being held at both SDSU and across town at the University of San Diego, will continue Friday with day two action. After two earlier contests on The Mesa, the Aztecs take the field beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a match-up with Wisconsin, before facing Louisville at 7 p.m.
San Diego State 4, Harvard 3
San Diego State (13-13) 000 102 1 -- 4 6 2
Harvard (7-6) 000 200 1 -- 3 4 2
Ka. May, Micetich (4), Beasley (7) and Kr. May; Brown and Scott
W - Micetich, 8-7. L - Brown, 6-2. S - Beasley, 3
HR: San Diego State, Maeva (3).