Byrd’s Walk-Off Double Lifts Softball Past FS, 1-0

SAN DIEGO -- Katie Byrd drilled a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Katie Parker from second base and give San Diego State a 1-0 victory over Fresno State Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium.
 
It was the sixth walk-off win of the season for the Aztecs (22-24, 9-10 MW), who beat a Bulldog (33-16, 11-8 MW) team that had won 11 of its previous 13 Mountain West games.
 
Parker got things going for SDSU in the seventh with a one out-single before moving to second on a groundout by Aris Metcalfe. Byrd then took the first pitch she saw into the right-center field gap to score Parker with the game-winner.
 
San Diego State was able to get the win and not waste an excellent pitching effort from Marissa Moreno. Moreno (10-11) tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and three walks, while striking out eight. Moreno got out of jam after jam in the game, limiting a .310-hitting FS team to four hits (.160 average), and a 1-for-13 (.077) outing with runners on base and a 0-for-8 (.000) mark with runners in scoring position. Altogether, Moreno stranded eight Fresno State runners.
 
Parker and Shelby Thompson had two hits apiece to lead the SDSU offense, while Molly Sturdivant singled and walked.
 
The Bulldogs had the first good chance in the top of the first when the speedy McKenzie Wilson reached on an infield single, stole second and moved to third on a flyout. With two outs, Moreno got Vanessa Hernandez to pop up to her in the circle to get out of the inning.
 
San Diego State threatened in the first as Thompson doubled with one out and moved to third on a wild pitch. Danielle Lung, however, got Kelsey Munoz to ground out to third and, after a walk to Sturdivant, Taylor Adams to foul out to first base.
 
In the second, Schuylar Broussard doubled with two outs after Jade Nua earlier reached on an error. Moreno got the Aztecs out of the inning by getting Vanessa Hernandez (different than the previous Vanessa Hernandez) to line out to a diving Kiera Wright in center field.
 
For a third straight inning, FS got a runner into scoring position in the third when Hayleigh Galvan walked with one out and advanced to second on a groundout. Moreno got (the first mentioned) Hernandez to ground out and keep the game scoreless.
 
In the fourth, Munoz led off with a single and was replaced by Kayla Sok. With one out, Sok moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adams. Lung struck out Kiera Wright to keep the game tied at 0-0.
 
Fresno State looked to take the lead in the sixth as (the first mentioned) Hernandez singled with one out and moved to second on a walk by Kaitlyn Jennings. Moreno settled down and struck out back-to-back batters in Kelsey Carrasco and Julianna Martinez to continue the shutout.
 
SDSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of singles and a walk, but pinch-hitter Kylie Fraser flew out to center fielder Hernandez (the first mentioned), leaving the bases stranded.
 
It appeared the Bulldogs would take the lead in the seventh when Broussard doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hernandez (the second mentioned). Moreno, however, got Wilson to pop out to Thompson at shortstop in foul territory and Galvan to ground out to Byrd at second base, setting up Byrd's heroics in the bottom of the seventh.
 
NOTE I
San Diego State improved to 12-5 on the season in one-run games.
 
NOTE II
RHP Marissa Moreno has all four of the SDSU shutouts this season.
 
STAT OF THE NIGHT
SDSU's six walk-off wins are the program's most since records have been kept in 2010. An incredible 27.3 percent (6 of 22) of San Diego State's victories this season have been walk-off hits.
 
UP NEXT
SDSU looks to claim the series at 6 p.m. PT Saturday.
 
San Diego State 1, Fresno State 0
Fresno State (33-16, 11-8 MW)                000 000 0 -- 0 4 0
San Diego State (22-24, 9-10 MW)            000 000 1 -- 1 7 1
Lung and Carrasco; Moreno and Sturdivant
W - Moreno, 10-11; L - Lung, 14-5