March 2, 2017
Game 1: MSU 7, SDSU 6 HTML | PDF | Video Replay | Gallery
Game 2: BYU 5, SDSU 1 HTML | PDF | Video Repay
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State dropped a pair of games to 2016 NCAA tournament teams on the first day of the San Diego Classic I Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (8-7), who are receiving votes in both the NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, lost to McNeese State, 7-6, in the opener and to Brigham Young, 5-1, in the nightcap.
In the first game, SDSU rallied back from a 7-2 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and another two in the seventh, but was unable to get the tying run across the plate in a 7-6 loss to the Cowgirls (10-9).
MSU, which was 43-14 last year en route to capturing the Southland Conference Championship and a win over Arizona State in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a double by Morgan Catron and a single by Tori Yanitor.
McNeese State added a run in the third on an RBI single by Justyce McLain.
San Diego State answered in the bottom of the third when a two-out single by junior Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) plated classmate Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.).
The Aztecs closed the gap once again in the fourth as senior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) singled to left-center field to score sophomore Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.).
The Cowgirls seemed to put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning, thanks to four singles, a walk and some crafty baserunning.
SDSU, however, responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning as a single by senior Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) scored freshman Megan Smith (Valencia, Calif.) and redshirt freshman Kiera Wright's (Riverside, Calif.) fielder's choice grounder plated Cable. With two outs and runners on first and third, MSU pitcher Alexsandra Flores was able to get out of the jam by getting San Diego State sophomore Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) to ground back to her in the circle.
After stranding two McNeese State runners in the top of the seventh, the Aztecs went back to work in the bottom half of the inning in an effort to extend the game. Peres led off with a single and moved to third on a double by sophomore Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.). One batter later Cable ripped a single up the middle to bring SDSU to within one run at 7-6. Baylee Corbello replaced Flores in the circle and promptly walked San Diego State freshman Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.), and then threw a wild pitch to put two runners into scoring position with two outs. Corbello, however, struck out Ignacio swinging on a 3-2 pitch and got senior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) to ground out to third base as a pinch hitter to end the game.
The Aztecs had 11 hits and drew four walks in the game, but left nine runners on base.
Cable was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs, a run and a walk for SDSU, while Meshack and Peres added two hits apiece.
Sophomore Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings, while striking out two. Senior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) scattered four runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of relief before freshman Marissa Moreno (Torrance, Calif.) faced three batters in the seventh, getting two outs and yielding one hit.
In the nightcap, the Cougars (8-6), who are also receiving votes in both national polls and have been in the top 25 this season, pounced on San Diego State early with the first five runs of the game in a 5-1 victory.
Libby Sugg got things going for BYU with a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. Brigham Young finished its scoring with two runs in the third on a RBI single by Ashley Thompson and a sacrifice fly by Caitlyn Alldredge. The Cougars would only threaten once more, leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, but were held in check the rest of the game.
The Aztecs finally broke through with a run in the sixth as Wright led off with a four-pitch walk, moved to second on a flyout by Byrd and, after a walk to Sturdivant, scored on a single through the right side by junior Taylor Stewart (Bellflower, Calif.). It would be the only scoring chance for SDSU for the rest of the game.
San Diego State was outhit by a 9-4 margin as both Thompson and Sturdivant reached twice via hit and a walk.
Moreno (4-2) saw her four-game winning streak snapped after allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. She struck out one. Junior Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) pitched arguably her best game of the season, tossing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four, while yielding two walks and a hit.
The Aztecs will look to get back to their winning ways 7 p.m. PT Friday in a solo game against Boston Univ.
Game 1: McNeese State 7, San Diego State 6
McNeese State (10-9) 201 004 0 -- 7 11 2
San Diego State 001 102 2 -- 6 12 0
Flores, Corbello (7) and Piancastelli; McDonald, Romero (3), Moreno (7) and Peres
W - Flores, 4-2; L - McDonald, 2-1; SV - Corbello, 1.
Game 2: Brigham Young 5, San Diego State 1
Brigham Young (8-6) 302 000 0 -- 5 9 0
San Diego State (8-7) 000 001 0 -- 1 4 0
Bull and Erickson; Moreno, Formby (4) and Orlando
W - Bull, 7-1; L - Moreno, 4-2
HR: Brigham Young, Sugg (3)