March 17, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU 8, HARVARD 7 (8 INN.) | VIDEO REPLAY | RUIZ' WALK-OFF DOUBLE
Senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) hit a walk-off, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead San Diego State to an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over Harvard Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium as part of the San Diego Classic II. The Aztecs (14-10) stopped a season-long three-game losing streak with 14 hits in the game, including four doubles.
Down, 6-4, after Meaghan Lantz hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning, SDSU tied it in the bottom half with a pair of singles by junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.) that scored freshman Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.) and junior Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.), respectively.
With the international tiebreaker in effect because of the two-hour tournament rule, the Crimson (8-8) placed Haley Davis on second base. Davis moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on a two-out single by Lantz.
Junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) started at second base for San Diego State in the bottom of the eighth and, after classmate Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) was hit by a pitch, was called out on a close play at third base on a fielder's choice grounder by sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.). Camello followed with a single to right-center field, her career-high fourth hit of the game, giving Ruiz a chance with the bases loaded. With a 2-2 count, Ruiz ripped a double to the right-center field gap to easily score Ignacio and Meshack and give the Aztecs their sixth straight international tiebreaker victory.
Camello finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run for SDSU, which outhit HU, 14-9. Junior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) had three hits, including two doubles, and a run, while sophomore Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) added three hits (one double) with an RBI, run and a stolen base. Ruiz recorded two hits, two RBIs and a sacrifice bunt, and freshman Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) reached base safely twice with a single and a walk.
Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) got the win in the circle after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over 2 2/3 innings of relief, while striking out two. She is now 8-4 on the season. Freshman Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) got the start and yielded one run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings, striking out one before exiting with a leg injury. Sophomore Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) tossed the middle 2 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on three hits and three walks, striking out four.
The rest of the San Diego Classic II will be played at the Sportsplex USA Santee in nearby Santee, Calif., with San Diego State meeting Brigham Young at 7 p.m. PT Friday.
San Diego State 8, Harvard 7 (8 innings)
Harvard (8-8) 001 005 01 -- 7 9 2
San Diego State (14-10) 121 002 02 -- 8 14 2
Groom, Smith (3), Duncan (6) and Panariello, Shively (6); McDonald, Formby (3), Romero (6) and Peres
W - Romero, 8-4; L - Duncan, 0-2
HR: Harvard, Lantz (3)