April 3, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
Sophomore right-hander Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) tossed a complete game three-hit shutout in San Diego State's 3-0 victory over Fresno State Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (24-13 overall) remain in first place in the Mountain West standings at 7-1, while the Bulldogs dropped to 24-13 and 5-3.
Romero (22-10), who yesterday gave up 13 hits (12 singles) in a 5-0 SDSU loss, allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings tonight. She struck out six batters without allowing a walk to record her fifth shutout of the season. Romero forced the first five in the Bulldog order to go a combined 0-for-15 with four strikeouts and allowed only one baserunner past first base.
Romero, who came into the weekend ranked first in the nation in innings pitched and appearances, and tied for first in wins, now has the last 17 decisions in the circle for San Diego State, where she is 12-5.
The Aztecs, who yesterday managed just two hits in the loss, equaled that in the bottom of the first inning en route to their first score of the game. Sophomore Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) hit a one-out single through the left side and moved to second on a groundout by senior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS). Freshman Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) then took the first pitch she saw down the left field line for an RBI double.
In the fourth, Bauer led off with a single up the middle and was replaced by senior Jacki Campa (La Verne, Calif.). Campa moved into scoring position on a Peres groundout and junior Kayla Bufardeci (Castro Valley, Calif.) followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Senior Kaitlin Connors (San Diego/La Costa Canyon) was up next and reached on a fielder's choice to FS shortstop Whitney Smith. On the play, however, second baseman Malia Rivers dropped the Smith throw and was charged with an error, loading the bases with one out. Campa then scored on a fielder's choice grounder by senior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) to put SDSU up by a 2-0 margin.
San Diego State added to its lead in the sixth when Bauer led off with a double off the left-center field wall and advanced to third on an infield single by Peres. With runners at the corners, Bufardeci singled through the left side for the Aztecs' final run of the game. Fresno State's Kiley Shae Aldridge, however, replaced starting pitcher Hannah Harris and retired SDSU in order via flyout, lineout and groundout to keep the score at 3-0.
Facing the middle of Fresno State's lineup in the top of the seventh, Romero got Michelle Solomon to foul out, Alyssa Villalpando, who yesterday was 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, to strike out on four pitches and Paige Gumz out on a groundout to seal the win and even the series at one apiece.
Bauer and Peres (RBI) each had two hits, including a double, while Bufardeci added two singles for San Diego State, which outhit the visitors, 8-3.
The final game of the weekend series is set for noon PT Saturday.
San Diego State 3, Fresno State 0
Fresno State (24-13, 5-3 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
San Diego State (24-13, 7-1 MW) 100 101 x -- 3 8 0
Harris, Aldridge (6) and Gumz; Romero and Peres
W - Romero, 22-10; L - Harris, 7-3