Feb. 12, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - The San Diego State softball team gave up a walkoff two-run double in a 5-4 loss to No. 16/11 Oregon Sunday at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. It was the third one-run defeat of the season for the Aztecs (3-3), all against teams either nationally ranked or receiving votes.
SDSU, which is receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning when redshirt junior Roshana Lavery (San Diego/Mission Bay HS) scored on a single by freshman Fiana Finau (San Diego/Hilltop HS).
The San Diego State pitching staff got out of numerous jams, stranding 12 Duck (3-2) runners for the game. The Aztecs, however, couldn't get out of the final jam in the bottom of the seventh when Kaylan Howard and Alexa Peterson led off with singles and moved up a base on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Hannah Melick then doubled to left-center field for the game-winning hit.
Sophomores Lorena Klopp (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) and Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) each homered for SDSU, which finished the first weekend of play with 12 home runs in six games. It was Klopp's fourth of the season and Miles' second.
Freshman Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) also had a hit for San Diego State, while Finau, senior Justeen Maeva (San Diego/Mira Mesa HS), junior Tiffany Corder (San Clemente, Calif./UC Santa Barbara) and sophomore Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) all drew a walk.
Senior Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits over two-plus innings of relief. It was the first loss of the season for Micetich (2-1), who struck out three batters without issuing a walk.
Redshirt junior Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif./Texas A&M) started in her Aztec debut and gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over three innings. She struck out two before giving way to junior Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.). May pitched one inning, yielding two hits and a walk.
SDSU plays host to the 22nd annual Campbell/Cartier Classic this weekend (Feb. 17-19), beginning with Notre Dame (2 p.m. PT) and Oregon State (7 p.m. PT) on Friday.
Kajikawa Classic - Tempe, Ariz.
February 12, 2012
No. 16/11 Oregon 5, rv/rv San Diego State 4
San Diego State (3-3) 201 100 0 -- 4 4 2
Oregon (3-2) 030 000 2 -- 5 12 2
Arbino, Ka. May (4), Micetich (5) and Kr. May, Tamayo (3); Moore and Peterson
W - Moore, 2-2; L - Micetich, 2-1.
HR: San Diego State, Miles (2), Klopp (4).