May 5, 2012
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State softball team gave up four runs in the top of the sixth inning in a 4-3 loss to Boise State Saturday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (27-21) dropped to 6-2 in Mountain West play and into second place behind the Broncos (34-16, 8-3 MW).
Now a ½-game back in the league standings, SDSU will have to beat BSU tomorrow (1 p.m. PT) and take two of three games at UNLV next weekend to earn the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Anything less and San Diego State won't get the automatic bid, but could still be in play for a share of the conference title.
The Aztecs took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when senior Justeen Maeva (San Diego/Mira Mesa HS) hit a two-out single to right field that scored sophomore Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) and freshman Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS). It came one inning after redshirt junior Roshana Lavery (San Diego/Mission Bay HS) scored on a single by senior Ashley Rose (Antioch, Calif.).
Boise State, however, came back with four runs in the sixth with two outs when Allie Crump hit a three-run homer and Holly Bourke followed with a solo home run.
SDSU then went in order in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh in the loss.
San Diego State struggled to drive runners in for the second consecutive game, going 3-for-17 (.176) with runners on base and 3-for-15 (.200) with runners in scoring position. Over the two games in the series thus far, the Aztecs are just 4-for-27 (.148) with runners on base and 4-for-24 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
Redshirt sophomore Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) doubled twice to pace the SDSU offense, while senior Felicia Reifschneider (San Diego/Morse HS) drew two walks. Miles had a double, and Jordan, Maeva and Rose added one hit apiece.
Redshirt junior Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif.) took the loss, despite tossing 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. She ended up allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings. Arbino (12-9) had a season-high nine strikeouts.
Following tomorrow's game at 1 p.m. PT, there will be a special ceremony honoring the San Diego State student-athletes playing in their last game, including seniors Maeva, Bailey Micetich (Woodland, Calif.), Reifschneider and Rose, and redshirt junior Lavery.
Boise State 4, San Diego State 3
Boise State (34-16, 8-3 MW) 000 004 0 -- 4 9 1
San Diego State (27-21, 6-2 MW) 000 120 0 -- 3 6 0
Work and Engelbrecht; Arbino and Kr. May
W - Work, 6-2; L - Arbino, 12-9
HR: Boise State, Crump (8), Bourke (3)