April 26, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State got two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to get a run across the plate in a 1-0 loss to Colorado State Saturday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 33-15 overall and 10-7 in Mountain West play, while the Rams improved to 30-12 and 11-6.
Freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led off the seventh with a single to left field and classmate Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside/El Camino HS) followed with a single through the left side. Junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) moved each runner up a base with a sacrifice bunt. With two runners in scoring position, senior Dominique Dinner (Monterey, Calif.) had a hard-hit ball that bounced off the glove of CSU first baseman Alysa Greckel. Greckel, however, recovered and got Dinner out at first and was able to double up Cable at the plate as Cable was stuck half way between third and home.
SDSU had just gotten out of a similar jam in the top of the seventh. Kendal Butterfield was hit by a pitch and Hayley Hutton followed with a bunt single. Freshman Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) replaced sophomore starter Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) to face Shae Rodriguez, who moved Butterfield and Hutton up a base with a sac bunt. Romero got Chelsea O'Connor to ground it to sophomore third baseman Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.), who threw it to sophomore first baseman Kayla Bufardeci (Castro Valley, Calif.). Bufardeci was able to scoop the ball and make the out on O'Connor, then threw it to Ruiz to try and double up Butterfield at third. The ball, however, scooted base Ruiz. Ruiz went into foul territory, grabbed the ball, and threw out Butterfield at home as freshman Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) applied the tag.
O'Toole (24-7) and Romero combined to strand eight Colorado State runners in the game, limiting the Rams to a 3-for-14 (.214) outing with runners on base and a 1-for-7 (.143) mark with runners in scoring position. San Diego State, however, was just 1-for-10 (.100) in the game with runners on base and 0-for-6 (.000) with runners in scoring position.
O'Toole was the tough luck loser, allowing one run on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter, while striking out four. Romero pitched a perfect inning of relief.
CSU got its run in the sixth when Greckel had a two-out triple and Jaelyn Manzanares followed with a single deep into the hole toward sophomore shortstop Monica Downey (San Diego/Madison HS).
Colorado State pitcher Holly Reinke (18-6) gave up five hits and a walk in the complete game shutout. She struck out four.
Cable, Downey, Ignacio, senior Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) and Miles each singled for the Aztecs, while junior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) drew a leadoff walk.
SDSU and the Rams will play the rubber match of the weekend series at 1 p.m. PT Sunday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
Colorado State 1, San Diego State 0
Colorado State (30-12, 11-6 MW) 000 001 0 -- 1 7 0
San Diego State (33-15, 10-7 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 5 0
Reinke and Manzaneres; O'Toole, Romero (7) and Dinner
W - Reinke, 18-6; L - O'Toole, 24-7