April 5, 2013
RENO, Nev. - The San Diego State softball team downed Nevada, 6-3, for its 12th consecutive victory Friday afternoon in Reno, Nev. The Aztecs, who are receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, improved to 24-12 overall and 4-0 in the Mountain West with the win, while the Wolf Pack dropped to 22-17 and 1-3.
After a scoreless two innings, junior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) got SDSU on the scoreboard in the top of the third with a two-out solo home run. It was her eighth of the season, which ties junior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) for the team lead and ranks in a tie for the fifth on the San Diego State single-season charts.
The Aztecs tacked on three more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run homer by senior Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.). Freshman Kayla Bufardeci (Castro Valley, Calif.) later added an RBI single to right field that scored junior Stefani Polonia (Pico Rivera, Calif.).
Nevada halved the deficit in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk, before Caylin Campbell drove in two on a pinch-hit single.
In the sixth, Bauer led off with a walk and was replaced by junior Dominique Dinner (Monterey, Calif.). Dinner then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.) and scored when senior Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) doubled to left field. Kristin May later moved to third on a groundout by freshman Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) and scored on a wild pitch for SDSU's final two runs of the game.
The Wolf Pack responded with a score in the bottom half when Megan Fincher's sacrifice fly plated Jasmine Jenkins and threatened again in the seventh. San Diego State freshman left-hander Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) replaced senior right-hander Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif.), but yielded back-to-back walks, prompting Arbino to re-enter the game. Catcher Kristin May then caught Megan Sweet trying to steal third and Arbino got Nevada cleanup hitter Sara Parsons to pop up to Ruiz a third base for the second out. Ashley Butera, however, kept the inning going with a single to center field and Jenkins reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Arbino got the Aztecs out of the jam, getting pinch runner Danielle Wiltz out at third base on Lauren Lastrapes' fielder's choice grounder.
Arbino (14-7) picked up the win, holding the top-hitting team in the league to three runs (one earned) on nine hits and a walk over seven innings. She struck out eight, stranding 10 Wolf Pack baserunners on the day. O'Toole walked two without getting an out.
Kristin May had two hits, including a double, to pace the offense, while Bauer reached twice with a single and a walk.
SDSU and Nevada play the second contest of the three-game series at 1 p.m. PT Saturday.
NOTES: San Diego State is now 12-2 all-time against the Wolf Pack ... The Aztecs improved to 17-0 this season when leading after five innings, 21-4 when scoring first and 24-5 when leading at any point in the game ... SDSU picked up just its second win of the season (2-9) when being outhit (21-2 when outhitting its opponent, 1-1 when hits are tied) ... C Kristin May had her seventh multi-hit game of the year (ranks fifth on team) ... 1B Kamerin May had her fifth multi-RBI contest of the season (ranks third on the team) ... RHP Rebecca Arbino has all four wins for San Diego State in Mountain West play.
San Diego State 6, Nevada 3
San Diego State (24-12, 4-0 MW) 001 302 0 -- 6 7 1
Nevada (22-17, 1-3 MW) 000 201 0 -- 3 10 0
Arbino, O'Toole (7), Arbino and Kr. May; Dortch and Butera
W - Arbino, 14-7; L - Dortch, 7-8
HR: San Diego State, Jackson (8), Ka. May (3)