May 2, 2012
FULLERTON, Calif. -
SDSU 12, CAL STATE FULLERTON 4 (6 INN.)
The San Diego State softball team scored six runs in the second inning and another six in the sixth in a 12-4, run-rule victory over Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night in Fullerton, Calif. It was the ninth consecutive win for the Aztecs (27-19), who had 15 hits in the game.
After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, SDSU scored six times in the second on four hits and two Titan (19-26) errors, capped by a three-run homer by redshirt junior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.). It was her eighth of the season and second in as many games. Sophomore Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) added a two-run single in the inning, while senior Ashley Rose (Antioch, Calif.) scored the team's other run from second base on a throwing error by CSUF third baseman Nicole Johnson.
Cal State Fullerton responded with four runs of its own in the fourth inning, all unearned after a San Diego State two-out error. The big one came on a three-run homer by Eliza Crawford, the first of her career. Leesa Harris added a RBI single. The Titans loaded the bases in the inning, before Aztec senior Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.) relieved redshirt junior Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif.) in the circle and got pinch-hitter Morgan LeMond to pop up weakly to Miles at shortstop.
In the sixth, Miles led off with a double and moved to third on an infield single by freshman Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS). After Jordan stole second (her second of the game), sophomore Lorena Klopp (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) took an 0-2 pitch over the right-center field fence for the three-run home run. It was her 12th of the year and 27th of her career, extending her school record. The Aztecs' other runs in the inning came when sophomore Dominique Dinner (Monterey, Calif./San Diego Mesa College) scored on CSUF error, on a pinch-hit single by junior Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.) and a sacrifice fly by Miles.
Miles went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and a walk, and has now reached base safely in 33 consecutive games. Jackson was 2-for-2 with three RBIs, a run and a walk, while Rose (two runs) and Jordan added two hits apiece. Klopp (three RBIs, run, walk), junior Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) (single, walk) and sophomore Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) (single, walk) each reached two times for SDSU.
Micetich (13-6) struck out four over 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief to pick up the win. Arbino started the game and allowed four runs (all unearned) over 3 2/3 innings. She struck out one and walked one.
San Diego State plays host to Boise State this weekend in a three-game series, beginning at 6 p.m. PT Friday.
NOTES: In two games this season against Cal State Fullerton, RF Patrice Jackson is 4-for-5 with two home runs, eight RBIs, a double and a walk ... San Diego State has four players with at least 30 RBIs in a season for the first time in program history - SS Hayley Miles (40), 1B Justeen Maeva (35), Jackson (31) and DP Lorena Klopp has 31. No other team has had more than two players with 30 or more RBIs in a year ... Miles has at least one hit in 41 of the team's 46 games this season ... LF Kayla Jordan reached base safely for the 11th consecutive game with a first inning infield single ... The four runs in the fourth inning (although unearned) were the first allowed by the Aztec pitching staff in 19 innings.
San Diego State 12, Cal State Fullerton 4 (6 innings)
San Diego State (27-19) 060 006 -- 12 15 1
Cal State Fullerton (19-26) 000 400 -- 4 6 4
Arbino, Micetich (4) and Kr. May; Laban, Ybarra (3), Garcia (6) and Lambertson, Snyder (3)
W - Micetich (13-6); L - Laban (1-6)
HR: San Diego State, Jackson (8), Klopp (12); Cal State Fullerton, Crawford (1)