May 10, 2018
SAN DIEGO -
San Diego State 2, Utah State 0
San Diego State pitcher Marissa Moreno one-hit Utah State in a 2-0 win Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs improved to 18-31 on the season and 9-13 in Mountain West play, while the Aggies dropped to 18-32 and 7-15.
Moreno (5-16) didn't give up a hit over the first six innings until Leah Molina reached on an infield single to lead off the top of the seventh. Riley Plogger followed with a walk and USU later had two runners in scoring position with two outs, but Moreno got Bailey Trapp to ground out to Kelsey Munoz at third base to end the game. Moreno had retired the first 17 batters she faced before allowing a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Kennedy Hira in the top of the sixth inning.
Moreno finished with just one hit and two walks allowed, while matching a season high with five strikeouts. Out of Moreno's 101 pitches, 69 went for strikes as she picked up her third shutout of the year.
SDSU got its two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when it loaded the bases on a Molly Sturdivant single, Munoz reaching on one of Utah State's four errors and Megan Smith being hit by a pitch. Iesha Hill then drilled a pinch-hit single through the right side to score pinch-runner Aris Metcalfe and Munoz with the only runs of the game.
San Diego State had eight hits, including a 2-for-2 effort (and a hit by pitch) by Smith. In all, seven Aztecs recorded at least one hit.
After leaving 33 runners on base last weekend in a 2-1 series loss at New Mexico, SDSU left seven on base tonight, but only three after the game-winning single by Hill.
NOTE I
RHP Marissa Moreno recorded San Diego State's first one-hitter since then senior Bailey Micetich one-hit San Diego in a 5-0 win on April 18, 2012 at USD Softball Complex.
NOTE II
The Aztecs outhit their opponents for a fourth straight game and have not been outhit over their last six games.
NOTE III
SDSU won its ninth straight game when leading after five innings (11-1 this season).
UP NEXT
The Aztecs look to win the series with the Aggies as game No. 2 is set for 6 p.m. PT Friday.
San Diego State 2, Utah State 0
Utah State (18-32, 7-15 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 1 4
San Diego State (18-31, 9-13 MW) 000 200 x -- 2 8 0
Hull and Lewis, Buttacavoli (6); Moreno and Sturdivant
W - Moreno, 5-16; L - Hull, 9-9