March 8, 2014
WICHITA, Kan. -
San Diego State used a six-run sixth inning for a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon at the Shocker Softball Classic in Wichita, Kan. The Aztecs, who are receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, improved to 15-7 with their fourth consecutive victory.
Down 7-2 after five innings, SDSU hammered out six hits and drew three walks, scoring six times with two outs. In the decisive inning, freshman Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) had a two-run single, sophomore Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) had an RBI double, senior Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) recorded an RBI single and freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) added a two-run single.
Sophomore Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.), who entered the game in the fifth, shut down the Huskies (6-6) the rest of the way, allowing one hit and a walk over three scoreless innings. The left-hander struck out four and is now 12-3 on the year.
Freshman Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) drew the start for San Diego State and gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings, while striking out six. Classmate Andi Smith (Orangeville, Utah) also threw for the Aztecs, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over 2/3 innings with one strikeout.
Orlando led SDSU by going 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBIs, two runs, a walk and her first career home run, a two-run homer in the fourth. Three others - Cable, Jordan and Mathis - added two hits apiece, while junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) walked twice.
San Diego State wraps up its play in the Shocker Softball Classic Sunday with a game against North Dakota at 10 a.m. CT.
Shocker Softball Classic
Wichita, Kan.
March 8, 2014
San Diego State 8, Northern Illinois 7
San Diego State (15-7) 000 206 0 -- 8 11 1
Northern Illinois (6-6) 103 300 0 -- 7 10 0
Romero, Smith (4), O'Toole (5) and Orlando; Roberts, Rupard (3), Weinstein (6) and Naegele
W - O'Toole, 12-3; L - Roberts, 0-1
HR: San Diego State, Orlando (1); Northern Illinois, Kopp (1)