March 15, 2013
SANTEE, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team downed Buffalo, 4-2, for its fifth consecutive victory Friday night at the San Diego Classic II at Santee Complex. The Aztecs improved to 17-12 with the win.
SDSU junior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) continued her hot hitting when she broke open a scoreless game with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. Since Tuesday (five games), Jackson is hitting .643 (9-for-14) with two homers, 10 RBIs, four runs, three doubles and three walks to go along with a 1.286 slugging percentage and a .684 on-base percentage.
The big home run came after the Bulls (4-15) threatened for the first time in the fifth. After getting runners to second and third with one out, pinch hitter Andi Saucier laid down a squeeze bunt. Senior pitcher Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif.), however, was able to get off the rubber and toss the ball to senior catcher Kristin May (Corona, Calif.), who blocked the plate and tagged the UB runner for the second out. Arbino then got Buffalo leadoff hitter Sammi Gallardo to ground out to senior second baseman Tiffany Corder (San Clemente, Calif.) to end the inning.
The Jackson homer was also a key play since San Diego State stranded two runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth and bases loaded with no outs in the fifth.
The Aztecs added three insurance runs in the seventh with RBI doubles by Corder and junior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) and a sacrifice fly by Jackson.
Buffalo rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Gallardo had a two-run single. Arbino then got pinch hitter Heather Ryder to ground out weakly to Corder to end the game.
Bauer (two doubles) and Corder had two hits apiece to pace the SDSU offense, while Jordan had her team-leading fourth triple of the season.
Arbino (9-7) got the win after allowing two runs on three hits over three innings of relief. She had three strikeouts without issuing a walk. Freshman Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) gave up just two hits over four innings as the starter. She struck out two against no walks.
San Diego State plays its final two games of the San Diego Classic II tomorrow (Saturday) against Seton Hall (4:30 p.m. PT) and Texas Tech (7 p.m. PT).
San Diego State 4, Buffalo 2
San Diego State (17-12) 000 001 3 -- 4 7 0
Buffalo (4-15) 000 000 2 -- 2 5 2
O'Toole, Arbino (5) and Kr. May; Speckman and Curtiss
W - Arbino, 9-7; L - Speckman, 2-3
HR: San Diego State, Jackson (4)