Feb. 12, 2016
Game 1: SDSU 14, CANISIUS 2 (5 INN). html | pdf
Game 2: CSF 8, SDSU 4 html | pdf
FULLERTON, Calif. - The San Diego State softball team split its opening two games of the season Friday at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif. The Aztecs (1-1) first run-ruled Canisius, 14-2, in five innings before falling to host Cal State Fullerton, 8-4, in the nightcap.
In the opener, SDSU tied a program opening-game record with 14 runs, thanks to 14 hits and seven walks, in a 14-2, five-inning win against the Golden Griffins (0-2). It was the fourth consecutive season-opening victory for the Aztecs, 15th in 16 years and 18th in 20 years under head coach Kathy Van Wyk.
San Diego State opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by sophomore Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.). After Canisius responded with a run in the bottom of the first, the Aztecs tacked on four more scores in the second, led by a bases loaded double by junior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.).
The Golden Griffins, who lost to Weber State, 6-2, earlier in the day, scored another run in the bottom half of the second to cut the SDSU lead to 8-2. San Diego State, however, scored three more times in the third and three in the fifth to complete the run-rule victory.
Orlando drove in a career-high four runs and scored a run to pace the Aztec offense, while redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) was 1-for-3 with three RBIs, a run and a walk in her first career collegiate game.
Three other SDSU players - senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.) (2-for-4, RBI, 2B, R, BB), senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) (2-for-5, 2 R), Peres (2-for-2, 2 RBI, HR, 3 R, 2 BB) - added two hits apiece, while sophomore Taylor Stewart (Bellflower, Calif.) drew three walks, including one with the bases loaded.
Other RBIs in the opener went to junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and redshirt junior Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.).
Redshirt junior Ashley Ercolano (Poway, Calif.) picked up her first win at San Diego State after tossing three scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits, while striking out two. Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) started for the Aztecs and allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout over two innings.
In the second game, SDSU was unable to overcome three errors in a 8-4 loss to the Titans (2-0).
CSF led off with back-to-back singles and scored both runs, one because of a throwing error by a SDSU player, to take a 2-0 lead after an inning.
Cal State Fullerton made it 3-0 in the second as a single by Delynn Rippy plated pinch-runner Ariana Williams from third base.
In the third, Missy Taukeiaho led off with a solo homer to put the home team up by a 4-0 advantage.
San Diego State got things going in the fourth as Cable and Stewart each singled with no outs and were replaced at the corners by freshmen Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.) and Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.). After Wright stole second base and a strikeout, Sturdivant drove in Metcalfe with a groundout to finally get the Aztecs on the scoreboard.
The Titans, however, scored two more unearned runs on an Aztec error in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead.
CSF added to its lead in the fifth as Melissa Sechrest led off the frame with a solo homer over the center field fence.
The Aztecs threatened again in the sixth as Stewart, Orlando and Stewart all drew a walk with no outs off Cal State Fullerton relief pitcher Cerissa Rivera. Jasmine Antunez then replaced Rivera and, after a strikeout, allowed Byrd to knock in Stewart with a fielder's choice groundout. Antunez then struck out another SDSU player to end the inning.
San Diego State made it a game late, scoring two more times in the seventh on three hits and one Titan error. Camello led off with a double and later scored on a fielding error after a Ruiz single. Cable batted in Ruiz with a single for the final run of the game.
Each team recorded seven hits apiece, but the Aztecs committed four errors and left eight on base to CSF's seven.
Cable had two hits to pace the SDSU offense, while Ruiz and Stewart each singled and drew a walk.
Sophomore Alex Formby (Pasadena, Calif.) took the loss in her San Diego State debut, scattering four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks over three innings, while striking out one. Freshman Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) also made her college and Aztec debut, yielding four runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks over two innings. Romero allowed one hit in one inning of relief.
SDSU returns to action with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning with UTSA at 11 a.m. PST and ending with Weber State at 1:30 p.m. PST.
Titan Classic
Fullerton, Calif.
February 12, 2016
Game 1: San Diego State 14, Canisius 2 (5 innings)
San Diego State 443 03 -- 14 14 1
Canisius (0-2) 110 00 -- 2 6 2
Romero, Ercolano (3) and Peres, Sturdivant (4); Weathers, Castro (3) and Aston
W - Ercolano, 1-0; L - Weathers, 0-1
HR: San Diego State, Peres (1)
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 8, San Diego State 4
San Diego State (1-1) 000 101 2 -- 4 7 4
Cal State Fullerton (2-0) 211 220 x -- 8 7 2
Formby, McDonald (4), Romero (6) and Orlando; Ybarra, Rivera (6), Antonez (6) and Padilla
W - Ybarra, 1-0; L - Formby, 0-1
HR: Cal State Fullerton, Taukeiaho (1); Sechrest (1)