March 21, 2014
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -
The San Diego State softball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning in an 11-9 come-from-behind victory over New Mexico Friday night in Albuquerque, N.M. It was the 600th career win for Aztec head coach Kathy Van Wyk.
Now in her 18th season, Van Wyk is 600-402-1 (.599) as SDSU's head coach. The school's all-time winningest coach, Van Wyk has guided San Diego State to nine NCAA tournament appearances, including each of the past six years (2008-13). She has won the MW Coach of the Year four times and led the Aztecs to six league titles.
SDSU, which is receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, has matched its best start in school history at 23-8 and are 1-0 in Mountain West play.
Down 8-6 after six innings, San Diego State scored its five runs in the decisive seventh on three hits, three walks and a passed ball. San Diego State's first run in the inning came when junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) drew a bases loaded walk to plate freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Senior Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) then scored from third on a passed ball. Freshman Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside/El Camino HS) followed with a double to right-center field to score sophomore Victoria Kobold (Concord, Calif.) and Miles, and freshman Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) ended the scoring with a single up the middle to plate Ignacio.
Freshman Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) relieved sophomore starter Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) in the seventh and escaped by allowing one unearned run on one hit. She struck out two to pick up her second save of the season.
The Aztecs outhit the Lobos (9-19, 0-1 MW), 12-10, in the contest, but stranded a season-high 12 runners in the game.
Senior Dominque Dinner (Monterey, Calif.) led the SDSU offense with three hits, three RBIs, a run and a sacrifice bunt. Senior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Calif.) reached on all five plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, run and four walks. Just 31 games into the year, Jackson has broken the program's single-season record with 35 walks.
Miles had a single, two runs, an RBI and three walks, while Cable had two hits, a run and a walk. Junior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) recorded two hits, including a double, and scored a run, and Ignacio had a double, two RBIs, two runs and two walks.
O'Toole (17-3) picked up the win after scattering eight runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings. She struck out six.
San Diego State continues its three-game series with UNM in Albuquerque, N.M., at 1 p.m. MT Saturday.
San Diego State 11, New Mexico 9
San Diego State (23-8, 1-0 MW) 003 111 5 -- 11 12 2
New Mexico (9-19, 0-1 MW) 202 013 1-- 9 10 1
O'Toole, Romero (7) and Orlando; Soles, Sheehan (4), Rodrigues (6), Soles (7) and Tellez
W - O'Toole, 17-3; L - Soles, 2-3; SV - Romero, 2
HR: New Mexico, Rimmer (3), Casados (5)