April 4, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State softball team dropped an 8-1 decision to Fresno State Saturday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (24-14, 7-2 MW) had won five consecutive series against Mountain West teams until the Bulldogs (25-13, 6-3 MW) claimed this weekend's series, 2-1.
Despite today's setback, SDSU still leads the Mountain West at 7-2, followed by a three-way tie for second between FS, New Mexico and San Jose State at 6-3.
Fresno State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Michelle Solomon singled down the left field line to plate Brenna Moss.
The Bulldogs tacked on two more scores in the third, thanks in part to a San Diego State fielding error which allowed both runs to become unearned. Paige Gumz first was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Alyssa Villalpando followed by scoring Solomon with a sacrifice fly down the right field line. After a walk to Bria Kennedy to load the bases once again, Aztec sophomore pitcher Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) struck out Chase Leehong to leave all three runners stranded.
SDSU finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as junior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.), who also reached on a throwing error by Leehong at first base on the same play. Senior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) moved both runners into scoring position on another sac bunt, giving San Diego State a great opportunity with just one out. Sophomore Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) batted in Ruiz and reached via error by FS shortstop Whitney Smith. Fresno State pitcher Jill Compton, however, got out of the jam by getting the Aztecs' No. 3 hitter - senior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) - to fly out and their cleanup hitter - freshman Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) - to ground into a fielder's choice, keeping the score at 3-1 Bulldogs.
FS threatened again in the sixth as Smith led off with a triple. Moss then drilled a hard-hit ball at SDSU's Romero in the circle, which bounced off her leg. She was able to recover and get Moss out at first base. Romero stayed in the game and Smith was replaced by Christina Rodriguez, who scored on an infield single by Malia Rivers. Romero finished out the inning and left another two runners on base.
San Diego State tried to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the sixth with two outs. Bufardeci singled and was replaced by senior Jacki Campa (La Verne, Calif.). Junior Victoria Kobold (Concord, Calif.) followed with an infield single, but Compton got senior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) to line out to Moss in right-center field to end the threat.
Fresno State added four runs on five hits in the seventh off of Aztec relief pitcher Cable as Romero was unable to come back into the game.
Ruiz had two of SDSU's five hits in the game, while Bufardeci, Kobold and Peres also added singles. San Diego State, which left seven on base in the game, was outhit, 13-5, in the contest.
Romero (22-11) took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits, three walks and two hit batters over six innings, while striking out six and stranding 10 runners for the game. Cable pitched the seventh and gave up four runs on five hits.
To show how good San Diego State has been in Mountain West play (three straight league titles and seven overall), today's seven-run loss was its largest since an 8-1 loss to Utah on May 11, 2002 in the MW tournament championship (the league hasn't had a tournament since 2006) and matches its largest loss since a 14-3 setback to UNLV in the MW tournament on May 11, 2000. In the regular season, the Aztecs have only suffered one larger defeat in the history of the MW, a 12-1 loss at New Mexico on May 6, 2000.
SDSU continues its stretch of nine games in 11 days when it travels to Reno, Nev., for a doubleheader with Nevada on Tuesday, beginning at 1 p.m. PT.
Fresno State 8, San Diego State 1
Fresno State (25-13, 6-3 MW) 102 001 4 -- 8 13 2
San Diego State (24-14, 7-2 MW) 001 000 0 -- 1 5 3
Compton and Gumz; Romero, Cable (7) and Peres
W - Compton, 15-9; L - Romero, 22-11