March 16, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
OHIO STATE 4, SDSU 3 | VIDEO REPLAY
San Diego State scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to get the tying run across the plate in a 4-3 loss to Ohio State Wednesday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs dropped their third straight game and are now 13-10 on the season.
Each team had plenty of chances in the game, but combined to go 9-for-44 (.205) with runners on base, 2-for-24 (.083) with runners in scoring position and leave 24 runners on base, including a season-high 13 for SDSU.
The Buckeyes (12-6), who are receiving votes in both national polls, took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Cammi Prantl's triple plated Maddy McIntyre and scored on a throwing error by San Diego State.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first, the Aztecs got on the scoreboard in the second as junior Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) scored on a groundout by senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.). SDSU, however, left three runners once again in the inning.
After SDSU left another two runners on in the third, OSU scored again in the fourth when Prantl's bases loaded walk scored Emily Clark. San Diego State junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.), who replaced sophomore starter Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) earlier in the inning, got out of the bases loaded jam by striking out Alex Bayne and, after allowing the walk to Prantl, got Erika Leonard to ground out to Ruiz at second base.
Ohio State tacked on an insurance run in the sixth as McIntyre advanced to third on a single by Leonard and scored on an Aztec fielding error.
SDSU made it game in the seventh as redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) and freshman Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) each drew leadoff walks. Byrd moved up a base on a flyout by junior pinch hitter Ashley Ercolano (Poway, Calif./Poway HS) and Sturdivant as well on a groundout by junior Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.). Ignacio then reached on an error off the glove of Buckeye relief pitcher Lena Springer to score Byrd. Junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) followed with an infield pinch-hit single to the OSU shortstop to plate Sturdivant and bring San Diego State to within a run at 4-3. Springer, however, was able to get senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.) to ground out to first base to pick up the save.
The Aztecs, who walked a season-high eight times, were led offensively by Ignacio with an RBI, run and two walks. Camello added two hits, while Sturdivant walked a career-high three times and scored a run. Meshack also reached twice with an infield single and a walk.
Formby (4-4) took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Romero pitched the final 3 2/3 innings, yielding one unearned run on four hits and two walks, while striking out five.
SDSU plays host to Harvard at 6 p.m. PT Thursday in its first game of the San Diego Classic I.
Ohio State 4, San Diego State 3
Ohio State (12-6) 200 101 0 -- 4 10 2
San Diego State (13-10) 010 000 2 -- 3 5 2
Hursh, Springer (7) and Clark, Prantl (7); Formby, Romero (4) and Peres
W - Hursh, 6-3; L - Formby, 4-4; SV - Springer, 2