Feb. 18, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State softball team dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 18/19 Kentucky Thursday night at the 26th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic at SDSU Softball Stadium.
The Aztecs (3-3) had plenty of chances to score, but finished the game just 1-for-13 (.077) with runners on base and 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position, and left eight runners on base.
The Wildcats (7-1), who earlier in the day defeated San Diego, 5-1, used the long ball to get all of their runs. Katie Reed homered twice, including a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and a solo homer to lead off the sixth. Brooklin Hinz later added a two-run home run in the sixth.
Down, 2-0, SDSU tried to answer in the second when sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) stole second with one out. After a groundout, redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) singled up the middle, but Meshack was thrown out at the plate on a pinpoint throw from UK center fielder Sylver Samuel.
San Diego State got into scoring position once again in the third when junior Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.). Kentucky pitcher Meagan Prince, however, got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.
The Aztecs finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth when Ignacio drilled a line drive home run over the left field wall.
It was the only run for SDSU, which left at least one runner on base in all seven innings.
Ignacio had two of San Diego State's five hits, while Stewart reached twice via single and a walk.
Sophomore Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits over two innings, while striking out one. Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) pitched the middle four innings and yielded three runs on five hits, while striking out two. She saw her scoreless inning streak snapped at 13 innings. Freshman Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) pitched the final inning and surrendered two hits.
The Aztecs return to action on Friday with games against South Dakota (4:30 p.m. PST) and No. 22/25 California (7 p.m. PST).
26th Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic
San Diego, Calif. - SDSU Softball Stadium
February 18, 2016
No. 18/19 Kentucky 5, San Diego State 1
Kentucky (7-1) 200 003 0 -- 5 10 3
San Diego State (3-3) 000 010 0 -- 1 5 1
Prince and Metzger, Schaper (6); Formby, Romero (3), McDonald (7) and Orlando
W - Prince, 3-0; L - Formby, 0-2
HR: Kentucky, Reed 2 (2), Hinz (2); San Diego State, Ignacio (1)
No. 18/19 Kentucky 5, San Diego 1