April 27, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State rallied for a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Colorado State Sunday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The win moved the Aztecs (34-15, 11-7 MW) into a three-way tie for second place in the Mountain West standings, just one game back of Fresno State (28-18, 12-6 MW).
The Rams (30-13, 11-7 MW) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Chelsea O'Connor had a one-out two-run homer.
SDSU loaded the bases up in the second with one out, but was unable to get a run across the plate.
San Diego State got on the scoreboard in the fourth when freshman Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside/El Camino HS) ripped the first pitch she saw over the left field wall for her fourth homer of the season (and fourth in past seven games).
The Aztecs tied it up in the fifth when they loaded the bases again on singles by sophomore Monica Downey (San Diego/Madison HS) and junior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS), and an intentional walk to senior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.). Freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) then drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch with two outs to score Downey with the tying run. CSU starter Holly Reinke, however, was able to get out of the inning on a groundout.
After SDSU sophomore Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) stranded two Colorado State runners in the top of the sixth, San Diego State took advantage of some Ram miscues in the bottom half. Junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) led off with a single to left field and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error by CSU left fielder Kendal Butterfield. Miles then scored on a passed ball to give the Aztecs the lead. Freshman Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.), who followed with a walk, later scored on an error by Colorado State first baseman Alysa Greckel to account for SDSU's final run of the game.
O'Toole (25-7) gave up a one-out single to Haley Hutton, who finished 4-for-4 for the Rams, in the seventh, but then struck out Shae Rodriguez looking and got O'Connor to pop up to San Diego State senior second baseman Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) and help the home team capture the series.
Miles had two hits and a run to pace the Aztec offense, while Cable had a single, walk and RBI. Ignacio had the solo home run in the fourth, and Downey singled and scored a run.
O'Toole picked up the win after tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. The left-hander allowed one hit and two walks, while striking out four. Freshman Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) started the game and surrendered two runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. She struck out five without issuing a walk.
SDSU travels across town to take on San Diego at 6 p.m. PT Tuesday before heading to San José State for a three-game series this weekend. San Diego State and the Spartans are scheduled to play at 3 p.m. PT Friday, 1 p.m. PT Saturday and noon PT Sunday.
San Diego State 4, Colorado State 2
Colorado State (30-13, 11-7 MW) 200 000 0 -- 2 6 2
San Diego State (34-15, 11-7 MW) 000 112 x -- 4 7 0
Reinke, Petakoff (6) and Manzanares; Romero, O'Toole (5) and Dinner, Orlando (5)
W - O'Toole, 25-7; L - Reinke, 18-7
HR: San Diego State, Ignacio (4); Colorado State, O'Connor (10)