Feb. 18, 2018
SAN DIEGO -
The San Diego State softball closed out the 28th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic with a 2-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton Sunday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs improved to 3-8 with their second straight win, while the Titans dropped to 3-6.
After spotting CSF a run in the top of the first inning on a bunt single, SDSU tied it in the bottom half of the inning on back-to-back doubles by Katie Byrd and Molly Sturdivant.
Cal State Fullerton threatened in the third when Taylor Dockins led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Julia Valenzuela. San Diego State starting pitcher Marissa Moreno, however, struck out Brooke Clemetson swinging and got Sammie Vandiver to ground out to end the inning.
The Aztecs attempted to take the lead in the bottom of the third as Molly Sturdivant reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a single by Taylor Stewart. Taylor Adams followed with a single up the middle, but Sturdivant was called out at the plate on a throw by Titan centerfielder Ari Williams.
CSF got two more runners into scoring positon in the fourth on a pair of singles, but with two outs, Moreno got Bryanna Ybarra to line out to shortstop Shelby Thompson for the final out.
SDSU finally took the lead in the fourth as Zaria Meshack singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Smith, stole third and scored on a fielder's choice by Katie Byrd. Kayla Sok replaced Byrd at first and was later thrown out at the plate once again by Cal State Fullerton's Williams in center field.
The Titans made one last ditch effort to tie it up in the sixth as Williams reached on a bunt single and Deshea Hill followed with a single. Alex Formby, who relieved Moreno after a leadoff walk in the fifth, got Zoe Richard to ground to third baseman Iesha Hill, who was able to toss it to Thompson for the forceout at third. Formby then induced Shianne Brannan to fly out to Meshack in right field and Ybarra to strike out swinging, preserving the lead.
Formby (1-4) then retired CSF in order in the seventh to secure the win.
Altogether, Moreno and Formby held CSF to a .100 (1-for-10) average with runners in scoring position. Moreno allowed one run on four hits and two walks over four innings, while striking out two. Formby picked up her first win of the season, yielding two hits with two strikeouts over three innings.
San Diego State, which outhit Cal State Fullerton, 9-6, was led offensively by Sturdivant, Stewart and Meshack, who had two hits apiece.
THE NOTE
RHP Alex Formby tossed three scoreless innings. Over her last eight appearances, Formby is 1-3 with a 0.28 ERA over 25 1/3 innings, holding her opponents to a .141 average (12-for-85).
THE NOTE II
Sisters Iesha and Deshea Hill each played against each other today. Both third basemen, SDSU's Iesha Hill was 1-for-3 with two assists and two putouts, while CSF's Deshea Hill was 2-for-3 with five assists and a putout.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs kick off the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a game against Liberty on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8:30 p.m. PT.
San Diego State 2, Cal State Fullerton 1
Cal State Fullerton (3-6) 100 000 0 -- 1 6 1
San Diego State (3-8) 100 010 x -- 2 9 0
Dockins and Valenzuela; Moreno, Formby (5) and Sturdivant
W - Formby, 1-4; L - Dockins, 2-1