April 2, 2016
FRESNO, Calif. -
The San Diego State softball team dropped a tough 6-3 decision at No. 25/-- Fresno State Saturday night at Margie Wright Diamond in Fresno, Calif. The Aztecs (21-15, 3-5 MW) held a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, but the Bulldogs (23-9-1, 5-0 MW) rallied for the final four runs, including three in the bottom of the sixth, to take the series.
FS got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Bria Kennedy and Malia Rivers led off with back-to-back singles and Kierra Willis followed with a double off the left-center field fence. Alyssa Villalpando then singled to right where SDSU junior right fielder Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) picked it up and fired home to junior catcher Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) to easily get Willis at the plate. Junior pitcher Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) retired the next two batters in order on a flyout and a popout to get out of the inning.
Fresno State's Dominque Jackson led off the bottom of the second with a double to center field and moved to third on a wild pitch. Romero once again got out of the jam on three straight groundouts to Vanessa Hernandez, Whitney Smith and Kennedy.
San Diego State responded in the top of the third when sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) singled up the middle, stole second and moved to third on a grounder by senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.). With two outs junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was hit by a pitch for the second straight plate appearance, putting freshman cleanup hitter Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) at the plate. Sturdivant drilled a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall to put the Aztecs in the lead for the first time of the series. It was Sturdivant's third home run of the season. Ignacio then doubled and Orlando singled to put runners on the corners, but junior Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.) popped out in foul territory to Villalpando at third to end the threat.
The Bulldogs tried to tie it up in the fourth as Paige Gumz led off with a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Christina Rodriguez. Hernandez later singled through the left side with two outs to put runners on the corners for Smith. After going behind 2-0 on the count, Romero came back to strike out Smith looking to leave two runners on base.
After a scoreless top of the fifth for SDSU, Kennedy led off the bottom half with a double to right-center field for FS. Romero then struck out Rivers looking for the first out before Willis flew out to Ignacio for the second out as Kennedy advanced to third. After a four-pitch walk to the Fresno State cleanup hitter Villalpando, Gumz singled through the right side to score Kennedy with the tying run. Romero got Lindsey Willmon to ground into a fielder's choice to third to end the inning.
The Bulldogs finally broke through with three runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Smith and a RBI single by Kennedy.
Camello led off the top of the seventh with a double, but San Diego State grounded into three consecutive outs to end the game and give FS the series.
Sturdivant had two hits, three RBIs and a run for the Aztecs, who were outhit, 12-7, in the game. Igancio added a double and a walk.
Romero (9-7) took the loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits and two walks over five innings, while striking out two. Sophomore Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) gave up one hit in a scoreless inning of relief.
SDSU will look to win the final game of the series at noon PT Sunday.
No. 25/-- Fresno State 6, San Diego State 3
San Diego State (21-15, 3-5 MW) 003 000 0 -- 3 7 0
Fresno State (23-9-1, 5-0 MW) 200 013 x -- 6 12 0
Romero, Formby (6) and Orlando; Dung, Compton (5) and Gumz
W - Compton, 13-4; L - Romero, 9-7
HR: San Diego State, Sturdivant (3)