May 1, 2016
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State rallied from a 6-2 deficit with the final six runs of the game in an 8-6 win over Utah State Sunday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The win gave the Aztecs (26-20, 8-10 MW) their second straight series victory.
Down, 6-2, after a five-run fourth inning for the Aggies (25-23, 11-10 MW), SDSU scored three times in the fourth and three more runs in the sixth for the come-from-behind win.
San Diego State started its comeback in the bottom of the fourth as freshman Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) homered over the right-center field fence. It was her sixth home run of the season. After a flyout, the Aztecs loaded the bases on a single by junior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.), a walk by Sam Vlot (Chowchilla, Calif.) and a single by redshirt freshman Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS). Sophomore Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) then reached on an error by the USU second baseman and senior Samantha Camello (Temecula, Calif.) also reached on catcher's interference, allowing Orlando and Vlot to both score. SDSU was unable to get the tying run across the plate, though, as senior Leia Ruiz (Chino, Calif.) and junior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each grounded into fielder's choices to end the inning.
Down by a 6-5 margin heading into the sixth, Meshack singled and Camello followed with a double to right field. Ruiz then took a 2-1 pitch to left field to plate Meshack with the tying run. After Cable walked to load the bases, Sturdivant singled up the middle to score Camello and Ruiz with the go-ahead runs.
San Diego State sophomore pitcher Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) then shut down Utah State's 3-4-5 hitters in order in the seventh, highlighted by a strikeout of Paxton Provost to end the game and clinch the series for the Aztecs.
The Aggies got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning when Provost homered over the center-field wall.
SDSU responded with two runs in the third, thanks to a two-run single by Ruiz. Byrd (double) and junior Vlot (walk) scored on the play.
USU scored five times in the fourth on five hits, a hit by pitch and a wild pitch to take a 6-2 lead before San Diego State came storming back.
Sturdivant and Ruiz each drove in three runs apiece to lead the Aztecs, who outhit Utah State, 10-6. Sturdivant was 3-for-4 with a homer, double and a run, while Ruiz was 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run. Byrd also had two hits, and Meshack singled, scored two runs and drew a walk.
Formby (10-9) picked up the win after allowing one run on two hits and three walks over four innings, striking out three. Junior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) started for SDSU and yielded three runs on three hits and a walk over three innings, posting one strikeout. Junior Ashley Ercolano (Poway, Calif./Poway HS) was unable to record an out, surrendering two runs on a hit and a hit batter.
San Diego State travels to Albuquerque, N.M., for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 5 p.m. MT.
NOTES: The Aztecs won their 16th straight game when scoring at least eight runs (11-0 this year) … SDSU improved to 13-5 on the season when outhitting its opponent … San Diego State is now 18-2 on the year when leading after six innings … The Aztecs improved to 12-4 when homering at least once in the game (14-16 when not homering) … 3B Molly Sturdivant picked up her team-leading seventh multi-RBI game of the season and 10th multi-hit game … Sturdivant's six home runs rank second on the team … Sturdivant has six homers over the last 29 games after not having one over her first 17 games … 2B Leia Ruiz recorded her ninth multi-hit game and third multi-RBI contest … Ruiz added one fielding assists, giving her 324 for her career, which ranks as the seventh most in program history … LF Katie Byrd had her seventh multi-hit game of the year … SS Samantha Camello doubled and now has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games, the longest streak on the team this season.
San Diego State 8, Utah State 6
Utah State (25-23, 11-10 MW) 010 500 0 -- 6 6 2
San Diego State (26-20, 8-10 MW 002 303 x -- 8 10 0
Romero, Ercolano (4), Formby (4) and Orlando; Schroeder, Brown (4), Armendariz (4) and Namba, Lewis (4)
W - Formby, 10-9; L - Armanderiz, 3-6
HR: Utah State, Provost (5); San Diego State, Sturdivant (6)