April 8, 2016
Game 1: SDSU 3, CSU 2 html | pdf
Game 2: CSU 6, SDSU 4 html | pdf
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State split a doubleheader with Colorado State Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (22-17, 4-7 MW) won the first game, 3-2, before giving up three runs in the top of the seventh inning in a 6-4 loss in the nightcap.
In the opener, SDSU won on a walk-off error by Rams (17-17, 3-5 MW) second baseman Taryn Arcarese in the bottom of the seventh inning. San Diego State loaded the bases with one out on back-to-back-to-back singles by redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS), sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) and senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.). Senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) hit a chopper to the drawn-in infield, where Arcarese bobbled it and threw it home late as Byrd slid in for the game-winning score.
The Aztecs jumped out of the gate with two runs in the bottom of the first inning when Ruiz walked and sophomore Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.), making her first start of the MW season, drilled a towering fly ball over the left-field wall. It was her team-leading seventh home run of the season in just her 22nd game of the year due to injuries.
The game would remain 2-0 all the way until the top of the sixth inning when CSU took advantage of a SDSU fielding error with two outs, putting Amber Nelson at the plate. Nelson took a 0-1 pitch into the left-center field gap to score Sierra Galbreath and Kristina Akiona, tying the game at 2-2.
Peres had two hits, two RBIs and a run for San Diego State, which outhit Colorado State, 7-5, in the contest. Meshack was 2-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base, while Byrd singled and scored a run.
Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) picked up the win after allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks over the complete game, while striking out three.
In the nightcap, it appeared that the Aztecs were going to finish the sweep when Byrd hit a two-out single through the left side to score freshman pinch runner Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.) in the bottom of the sixth and give SDSU a 4-3 lead.
The Rams, however, scored three times in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by pinch hitter Lauren Buchanan and when Arcarese was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
CSU pitcher Bridgette Hutton retired San Diego State in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the split.
Colorado State got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first as Haley Hutton walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a double by Nelson.
The Aztecs answered in the bottom of the first when freshman Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) hit a three-run home run over the left-field fence. Ruiz and Peres also scored on the play after walking and singling, respectively, with one out. It was Sturdivant's fourth homer of the year.
The Rams tied it in the fourth as Madison Kilcrease and Hutton each drew two-out walks before Arcarese laced a double down the left-field line.
Sturdivant led SDSU with the home run, three RBIs, a run and a walk, while Peres singled, walked and scored a run.
Romero (10-8) took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits and a walk over an inning of relief, while striking out one. Sophomore Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) started the game and yielded three runs on four hits and four walks, striking out three over 3 2/3 innings. Junior Ashley Ercolano (Poway, Calif.) logged 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in between Formby and Romero, yielding two hits and a walk, while striking out one.
The rubber game of the series starts at noon PT Saturday.
Game 1: San Diego State 3, Colorado State 2
Colorado State 000 002 0 -- 2 5 1
San Diego State 200 000 1 -- 3 7 1
Reinke and Manzaneres; Romero and Orlando
W - Romero, 10-7; L - Reinke, 10-7
HR: San Diego State, Peres (7)
Game 2: Colorado State 6, San Diego State 4
Colorado State (17-17, 3-5 MW) 100 200 3 -- 6 9 0
San Diego State (22-17, 4-7 MW) 300 001 0 -- 4 4 1
B. Hutton and Manzaneres; Formby, Ercolano (4), Romero (7) and Orlando
W - B. Hutton, 3-8; L - Romero, 10-8
HR: San Diego State, Sturdivant (4)