March 4, 2016
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU 10, No. 11/9 TEXAS A&M 5 | VIDEO REPLAY | TOURNEY PAGE
San Diego State scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in a come-from-behind 10-5 win over No. 11/9 Texas A&M Friday night at the San Diego Classic I at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs improved to 11-5 with the victory, handing the Aggies (18-2) just their second defeat of the season.
SDSU now has two wins against nationally ranked teams this year (also vs. No. 22/25 California on Feb. 20) and is 5-2 vs. teams from Power 5 conferences. San Diego State snapped a 35-game losing streak to top-10 teams (defeated No. 5/5 Texas A&M, 3-0, on March 15, 2008). The Aztecs downed three top-10 teams that season en route to finishing 44-17 for their best record in school history.
The Aggies came into the weekend with a 14-game winning streak, four wins against top-15 teams and a NCAA-best 31 home runs.
Down, 4-2, SDSU pounded out six hits, drew three walks and took advantage of one TAMU error in the decisive eight-run sixth inning.
San Diego State took a 2-0 lead in the first when senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.) singled home sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) and senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) later scored on a groundout by sophomore Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.).
Texas A&M tied it in the second on a two-run homer by Kristen Cuyos.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Kaitlyn Alderink and Tori Vidales in the third put the Aggies up, 4-2.
The Aztecs stranded a runner in the third and fourth, and two in the fifth before breaking through for good in the sixth.
TAMU's Vidales led off the seventh with a homer, and Cali Lanphear and Ashley Walters followed with consecutive singles to put pressure on SDSU sophomore relief pitcher Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.). After a team meeting with head coach Kathy Van Wyk, however, Formby struck out Samantha Show and Cuyos swinging, and got April Ryan to pop out to a diving Camello at shortstop to secure the win for San Diego State.
The Aztecs outhit Texas A&M, 14-9, for the game, led by Meshack and Ruiz's three hits apiece. Juniors Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.) and Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) each recorded two hits with a run and a RBI (Vlot added a walk), while Peres doubled, drew two walks (one intentional) and scored a run for SDSU. Redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) also reached twice with an RBI single and a walk.
Formby (3-3) picked up the win after allowing one run on three hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings of relief, striking out four. Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) started the game and yielded four runs (three earned) on six hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Show (10-2) took the loss for the Aggies, scattering nine runs (four earned) on 11 hits and five walks over 5 1/3 innings, while striking out two.
San Diego State plays host to UIC (4:30 p.m. PST) and Saint Joseph's (7 p.m. PST) on Saturday.
San Diego Classic I
San Diego, Calif. - SDSU Softball Stadium
March 4, 2016
San Diego State 10, No. 11/9 Texas A&M 5
Texas A&M (18-2) 022 000 1 -- 5 9 2
San Diego State (11-5) 200 008 x -- 10 14 4
Show, Marks (6), Ober (6) and Walters; Romero, Formby (4) and Peres
W - Formby, 3-3; L - Show, 10-2
HR: Texas A&M, Cuyos (8), Vidales (6)
Other Friday Scores
at SDSU
Grand Canyon 10, Boston Univ. 3
Grand Canyon 4, Saint Joseph's 3
No. 11/9 Texas A&M 9, Boston Univ. 1 (6 inn.)
at USD
Pittsburgh 4, Utah Valley 3
UIC 9, Utah Valley 8 (8 inn.)
Pittsburgh 1, Portland State 0
UIC 5, San Diego 2 (8 inn.)
Portland State 3, San Diego 1