April 8, 2015
Game 1: SDSU 14, Nevada 3 (5 inn.) stats | video replay
Game 2: SDSU 9, Nevada 7 stats | video replay
RENO, Nev. - The San Diego State softball team swept a doubleheader over Nevada Wednesday afternoon in Reno, Nev., to maintain its lead atop the Mountain West standings. The Aztecs (27-14, 10-2 MW) defeated the Wolf Pack (12-26, 2-7 MW), 14-3, in five innings in the opener and 9-7 in the nightcap, and are one-game ahead of Fresno State (9-3 MW) in league play.
In the opener, SDSU rallied from a 3-1 deficit with nine runs in the top of the fourth en route to a 14-3, five-inning victory. The decisive nine-run inning came thanks to seven San Diego State hits and two Nevada errors.
The Aztecs added four runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homer by senior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS), to complete their second run-rule victory of the season.
Like in yesterday's 9-6 win, SDSU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as senior Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Bauer then drove in Jordan with a groundout to second base to give the Aztecs a 1-0 lead.
The Wolf Pack answered in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three unearned runs off San Diego State sophomore starting pitcher Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.). Nikki Orozco led off with a single to left field and moved all the way to third on a sac bunt by Alyssa Mendez, thanks to a throwing error by the Aztecs. Orozco then scored on a sacrifice fly by Karley Hopkins. After Romero struck out Jasmine Jenkins, Megan Sweet homered to dead center field to put Nevada up, 3-1, after three frames.
SDSU then put the game away with the nine-run fourth and four-run fifth.
San Diego State outhit the Wolf Pack, 12-4, in the contest, while banging out six doubles and a home run.
Jordan led the offense with three hits, including two doubles, three RBIs and three runs, while Bauer had a homer, double, four RBIs, three runs and a walk.
Freshman Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) added two hits, including a double, two RBIs and a run, and Cable recorded two hits with a double, RBI and a run.
Other RBIs in the game came from junior Kayla Bufardeci (Castro Valley, Calif.), senior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.) and junior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.). Miles added two runs, while Bufardeci and Ruiz scored one time apiece.
Romero (25-11) picked up the win after allowing three unearned runs on three hits over three innings, while striking out two. Cable pitched the fourth and struck out one with one walk allowed, while sophomore Andi Smith (Orangeville, Utah) came in for the fifth inning and gave up a hit and a walk, while striking out two.
In the nightcap, the Aztecs struck first for the third straight game of the series, scoring three times in the top of the third inning. Jordan had a one-out single, stole second and went all the way home on an errant throw by the Nevada catcher Ashley Butera. Cable, Bauer and Peres each followed with consecutive singles to load the bases, before Bufardeci's single to right field scored Cable. Sophomore Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) then scored Bauer on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to account for SDSU's final run of the inning.
After retiring the first eight batters she faced, Cable ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the third as Mendez, Hopkins and Jenkins each singled with two outs, including infield hits by Hopkins and Jenkins. Megan Sweet followed with a two-run double down the right field line. Romero replaced Cable and got Amanda Weis to ground out to end the threat.
Camello made it 4-2 San Diego State in the fourth with a solo home run, her second of the season.
The Aztecs extended their lead in the sixth as Camello, Jordan and Cable drew consecutive walks with one out, before Bauer hit a towering fly ball that bounced off the glove of the Wolf Pack centerfielder Aaliyah Gibson and ruled a single, which allowed both Camello and Jordan to score.
SDSU added three insurance runs in the seventh, thanks to a one-out triple by Ruiz that scored junior Victoria Kobold (Concord, Calif.) and Ignacio, and a single by Jordan that plated Ruiz.
Mendez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh for Nevada, and Purcell added a grand slam to make the final score 9-7.
San Diego State, which had 12 hits for the second straight game, was led by Jordan (2 R, RBI, BB) and Bauer (2 RBI, R), who had three hits apiece. Peres added two hits, including a double, and Cable singled, scored a run and drew two walks. Camello had the solo home run, two runs and a walk, and Bufardeci singled, walked and added an RBI.
Romero picked up her second win of the day after allowing one run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings of relief. She struck out three. Cable surrendered two runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings, while striking out three, and Smith gave up four runs on two hits and a walk over 2/3 innings, striking out one.
The Aztecs wrap up their stretch of nine games in 11 days this weekend with a home series vs. San Jose State, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. PT.
Game 1: San Diego State 14, Nevada 3 (5 innings)
San Diego State 100 94 -- 14 12 1
Nevada 003 00 -- 3 4 3
Romero, Cable (4), Smith (5) and Peres, Orlando (4); Dortch, Isenberg (4), Redington (4) and Butera
W - Romero, 24-11; L - Dortch, 3-6
HR: San Diego State, Bauer (12); Nevada, Sweet (6)
Game 2: San Diego State 9, Nevada 7
San Diego State (27-14, 10-2 MW) 003 102 2 -- 9 12 0
Nevada (12-26, 2-7 MW) 002 000 5 -- 7 10 2
Cable, Romero (3), Smith (7), Romero (8) and Peres, Orlando (7); Dortch, Isenberg (6) and Butera
W - Romero, 25-11; L - Dortch, 3-7
HR: San Diego State, Camello (2); Nevada, Mendez (2), Purcell (1)