April 17, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. -
The San Diego State softball team claimed the weekend series at San José State with an 11-7 victory Sunday afternoon in San Jose, Calif. The Aztecs improved to 24-19 overall and 6-9 in Mountain West play, while the Spartans dropped to 19-21 and 8-4.
SDSU got things going in the top of the first inning, scoring four times on just one hit and three SJSU errors. San Diego State loaded the bases on a single by senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.), a sacrifice bunt (and fielding error) by senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) and a hit by pitch by sophomore Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.). After a strikeout, junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) scored Camello on a sacrifice fly to left field. An error by catcher Alyssa Avila on the sac fly allowed both Ruiz and Peres to move up a base. It appeared that San José State pitcher Emily Rogers was going to get out of the inning, but she walked junior Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS), and Ruiz scored on a wild pitch and Peres on a throwing error by Avila on the same play. Ignacio, who advanced all the way to third on the miscues, then scored on another wild pitch by Rogers for the Aztecs' fourth run of the inning.
SDSU got a pair of runners on again in the third as Peres reached on a bunt single and Sturdivant was hit by a pitch. Cable, however, fouled out to left field, Ignacio flew out to center field and Peres was picked off at second base to end the threat.
The Spartans responded in the bottom of the third with a three-run homer by Madison Aurin over the left-field fence.
San Diego State threatened in the fourth as junior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) hit a one-out single and was replaced by freshman Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.). Metcalfe moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.). Camello drew a walk and both Metcalfe and Camello advanced a base on a wild pitch. Rogers, however, got Ruiz to ground to third to get out of the jam.
SJSU tried to tie it in the fourth as Emma Entzminger was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to second on a passed ball. Avila followed with a single to left field, but was thrown out at second by freshman third baseman Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.). Aztec junior pitcher Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) then got pinch-hitter Anissa Pinedo to fly out to right field to end the threat.
SDSU added insurance runs in the fifth, loading the bases once again when Peres was hit by a pitch, Sturdivant singled through the left side and Cable singled up the middle. Peres then scored on a delayed steal to put San Diego State up, 5-3. After an infield fly, sophomore Taylor Stewart (Bellflower, Calif.) singled to left-center field to plate Sturdivant. With only one out and two runners in scoring position, the Aztecs were unable to add to their total, flying out on consecutive at-bats to end the inning.
SDSU was not down, however, loading the bases once again in the seventh on back-to-back-to-back singles by Sturdivant, Cable and Ignacio. Redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) came through with a single to right-center field to plate Sturdivant and Cable. Orlando then hit a chopping single to shortstop to score Ignacio with the ninth run of the game. After a strikeout and a sacrifice bunt by Camello, Ruiz reached on an infield single to score Byrd from third base. Byrd scored the final run for San Diego State on a fielding error by Purdy at second base.
San José State put together a late rally in the seventh, scoring four times, thanks to a two-run homer by Brittany Abacherli, an infield single by Madison Aurin and a single by pinch-hitter Erin Rodriguez. The Aztecs would eventually get out of the win to secure the series victory.
SDSU recorded 12 hits on the day, including two apiece by Cable, Orlando and Sturdivant. Peres was 1-for-1 with two runs and two times hit by a pitch, while Camello, Ignacio and Stewart each had a hit and a walk.
Romero (11-8) picked up the win for San Diego State after allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over six innings, while striking out two. Sophomore Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) gave up one run on three hits in an inning of relief, striking out one.
The Aztecs return to The Mesa for a three-game series with Utah State from April 29-May 1.
San Diego State 11, San José State 7
San Diego State (24-19, 6-9 MW) 400 020 5 -- 11 12 1
San José State (19-21, 8-4 MW) 003 000 4 -- 7 12 4
Romero, Formby (7) and Orlando; Rogers, Riggs (5), Linford (7) and Avila
W - Romero, 11-8; L - Rogers, 2-4
HR: San José State, Aurin (4), Abacherli (8)