May 17, 2014
TEMPE, Ariz. -
No. 13/13 MICHIGAN 9, SDSU 1 (6 INN.) | 
HIGHLIGHTS
The San Diego State softball team saw its season come to an end with a 9-1, six-inning loss to No. 13/13 Michigan Saturday night at the NCAA Tempe Regional in Tempe, Ariz. The Aztecs finished their seventh consecutive year in the NCAA tournament with a 40-19 record, while the Wolverines (44-13) advanced to play No. 4/4 Arizona State in the regional final at 2:30 p.m. PT Saturday.
SDSU's 40 victories are the fourth most in program history and most since winning a school-record 44 times in 2008. San Diego State also finished the 2014 campaign with seven school records, including batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.397), runs (301), hits (467), RBIs (270), walks (226) and times hit by pitch (30).
UM got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning when a triple off the left field wall by Abby Ramirez scored Lauren Sweet and Lindsay Montemarano.
Michigan tacked on another score in the third as Sierra Romero scored from third on an Aztec fielding error.
SDSU threatened in the bottom of the third as it loaded the bases on a single by junior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS), and walks to senior Katie Mathis (Grass Valley, Calif.) and freshman Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.). But with two outs, Wolverine starting pitcher Megan Betsa got freshman Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) to popout to Sweet, the catcher, in foul territory.
The Wolverines broke the game open in the fourth as Sierra Romero hit a one-out grand slam over the center field fence to take a 7-0 lead.
San Diego State finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth when junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) led off with a walk. One batter later, Miles was called out at second on a fielder's choice by sophomore Monica Downey (Madison HS). Sophomore Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) then singled to right field, where Nicole Sappingfield misplayed it and allowed Downey to round the bases for the Aztecs' lone run of the game.
UM tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth as Lyndsay Doyle had a leadoff triple and later scored later on Sierra Romero's fielder's choice. Nicole Sappingfield, who got into scoring position on a fielding error by SDSU, scored Michigan's final run on a single by Kelly Christner.
San Diego State put together one more rally in the sixth as Miles led off with a walk. Downey added a one-out single and Jordan drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Mathis. Mathis, however, grounded out to Haylie Wagner, who had replaced Betsa in the circle.
The Aztecs were outhit, 12-4, in the game, but did draw six walks and one hit by pitch.
Miles was 1-for-1 with two walks, while Jordan singled and walked. Cable walked twice, and the other hits came from Downey, who also scored the team's run, and Ruiz.
Sophomore Danielle O'Toole (Upland, Calif.) took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk over four innings. She struck out one and ended the year with a program-record 31 wins, going 31-10.
Freshman Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) tossed the final two innings of relief, surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits. She struck out one with no walks.
Earlier in the night, San Diego State run-ruled Dartmouth, 8-0, in six innings in another elimination game.
2014 NCAA Division I Softball Championship
Regionals - Double-Elimination
Alberta B. Farrington Stadium - Tempe, Ariz.
All Games on ESPNU
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Game 5: No. 13/13 Michigan 9, San Diego State 1 (6 innings)
No. 13/13 Michigan (44-13) 021 402 -- 9 12 1
San Diego State (40-19) 000 100 -- 1 4 3
Betsa, Wagner (6) and Sweet; O'Toole, Romero (5) and Dinner
W - Betsa, 17-3; L - O'Toole, 31-10
HR: Michigan, Romero (17)
Game 3: No. 4/4 Arizona State 4, No. 13/13 Michigan 1
Game 4: San Diego State 8, Dartmouth 0 (6 innings)
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Game 6: 2:30 p.m. PT - No. 4/4 Arizona State vs. No. 13/13 Michigan
Game 7: 5 p.m. PT - *if necessary
Friday, May 16, 2014
Game 1: No. 3/3 Michigan 8, San Diego State 7 (9 innings)
Game 2: No. 4/4 Arizona State 8, Dartmouth 0 (5 innings)