May 16, 2014
TEMPE, Ariz. -
No. 13/13 MICHIGAN 8, SDSU 7 (9 INN.) | 
HIGHLIGHTS
The San Diego State softball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh to force extra innings, but still fell to No. 13/13 Michigan, 8-7, in nine innings in the opening game of the NCAA Tempe Regional in Tempe, Ariz. The Aztecs (39-18) will now play Dartmouth at 5:30 p.m. PT Saturday in an elimination game.
SDSU grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning when senior Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) took a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall for a home run. It was the first homer of the season for Mathis and the second of her career.
UM responded in the bottom of the first when Sierra Lawrence hit a two-out, three-run home run over the right-center field fence.
San Diego State tied it up in the second as junior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) stroked a two-out, two-run double down the right field line to score senior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) and sophomore Monica Downey (San Diego/Madison HS).
Michigan tacked on two more runs in the second on three hits, two walks (one intentional) and an Aztec error, but SDSU sophomore pitcher Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) got out of a bases loaded jam by getting Lawrence to strike out swinging.
San Diego State would not go away, though, as senior Patrice Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) drilled a 2-2 pitch well over the center field wall to bring the Aztecs back to within a run at 5-4.
A bases-loaded single by Lyndsay Doyle scored Lauren Sweet in the third gave the Wolverines a 6-4 lead, but O'Toole (30-9) got out of a bases loaded jam by inducing an inning-ending double play.
UM added to its lead in the fourth when Sweet's two-out double scored Lawrence.
SDSU rallied again in the seventh as it loaded the bases on a hit by pitch to Jordan, when Mathis reached on a fielding error and sac bunt and when freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) drew a four-pitch walk. Junior Jacki Campa (La Verne, Calif.) replaced Cable and all three runners would score as freshman Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) singled, Miles drew a four-pitch walk and senior Dominique Dinner (Monterey, Calif.) had an RBI groundout.
Michigan got a runner to third with two outs, but O'Toole once again got San Diego State out of the jam by getting Nicole Sappingfield to popout to Mathis at second base and force extra innings.
The Aztecs weren't able to get runners on in the extra innings, which allowed the Wolverines to possibly get the last chance at scoring. In the bottom of the ninth, Lindsay Montemarano had a one out-single and advanced all the way to third on a SDSU error. Haylie Wagner then hit a deep fly ball to Miles in center field, which allowed Montemarano to score and give UM the 8-7 win.
Ignacio had two hits and an RBI to pace San Diego State, which was outhit, 15-6, in the game.
Cable had two walks, Miles had a RBI, run and a walk, and Jordan had two RBIs, a run and a double. Cable, Miles and Jordan also were each hit by a pitch.
Mathis had the solo homer in the first and scored two runs, and Jackson had the solo home run in the third.
O'Toole took the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits and five walks (two intentional), while striking out six. The left-hander stranded 11 Michigan runners on base.
2014 NCAA Division I Softball Championship
Regionals - Double-Elimination
Alberta B. Farrington Stadium - Tempe, Ariz.
All Games on ESPNU
Friday, May 16, 2014
Game 1: No. 3/3 Michigan 8, San Diego State 7 (9 innings)
San Diego State (39-18) 121 000 300 -- 7 6 2
Michigan (43-12) 321 100 001 -- 8 15 1
O'Toole and Dinner, Orlando (6), Dinner (7); Wagner, Betsa (2), Driesenga (7), Wagner (7) and Sweet
W - Wagner (22-3); L - O'Toole (30-9)
HR: San Diego State, Mathis (1), Jackson (17); Michigan, Lawrence (7)
Game 2: No. 4/4 Arizona State 8, Dartmouth 0 (5 innings)
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Game 3: 3 p.m. PT - No. 13/13 Michigan vs. No. 4/4 Arizona State
Game 4: 5:30 p.m. PT - San Diego State vs. Dartmouth
Game 5: 8 p.m. PT - Loser of Game 3 and Winner of Game 4
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Game 6: 2:30 p.m. PT - Winner of Game 3 and Game 5
Game 7: 5 p.m. PT - *if necessary
Postgame Quotes
SDSU head coach Kathy Van Wyk
On what SDSU had to go through today:
"We talked a lot about coming out with great energy and we focused on each pitch one at a time, but it didn't matter what the situation was, they had to battle with that same kind of energy the whole way through. I'm really proud of them, I think that was one of the best games we've played all year against a fantastic team."
On SDSU pitcher Danielle O'Toole:
"I think that the stat line looked worse than it was because a lot of the hits they had were just little dribblers. There was really only one big hit, and I was proud of the way she battled back even though there were seven runs up on the board. She settled down and was able to get the job done."
Sophomore pitcher Danielle O'Toole
On her performance today:
"I think that I settled down eventually. (Coach Van Wyk) told me not to worry about the hits because they're not that hard, except in the first inning. I knew it was going to be like that the whole game and I'd knew I'd have to fight, especially with the batting averages they have."
Senior second baseman Katie Mathis
On her home run in the first inning:
"That was my first time in postseason and (it was) clutch. I was really happy that I could get the lead for my team and show everyone that this is a pitcher we can all hit."
On what she is telling the team being a senior:
"I'll just tell them to relax, don't over think it and just come out and play like we know how. I know this team and we'll battle through all the rest of the games."
Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins
Opening statement:
"Hats off to San Diego State. That was a great battle. They fought us very tough, but I think we prevailed because we fought hard. We had to keep our heads on straight. Late in the game there were a couple opportunities as they scored late and we left runners on. Those are times when people could hang their heads and we didn't. We just kept on fighting. I am very proud of my team."
On the adjustments SDSU pitcher Danielle O'Toole made during the game:
"She kept throwing that off-speed pitch and she threw it very well. I think you have to give her a lot of credit. There is a game within a game and you have to play that game, too."