SAN DIEGO – In a pitcher's duel between former Mountain West rivals, San Diego State dropped a 3-0 decision to Brigham Young in the opener of the 30th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium.
Starting Aztec (4-3) pitcher Maggie Balint and Cougar (3-2) pitcher Arissa Paulson combined for 18 strikeouts and just six hits allowed for teams that have combined to win 13 of the 20 MW regular-season championships in the history of the league.
Balint (0-2) tossed 4 2/3 innings of hitless ball before Rylee Jensen-McFarland's two-out single in the top of the fifth scored Kaylee Erickson. Erickson had walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before the single to left proved to be the game-winning hit.
BYU tacked on two runs in the seventh as Jensen-McFarland homered over the right-field fence and, after Karina Faasisila replaced Balint in the circle, a Paulson single scored Taylei Williams.
Balint finished the game with nine strikeouts, while allowing three runs on four hits, three walks and two hit batters. Faasisila pitched 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, surrendered one hit and one walk.
On the other side, SDSU managed just one hit - a Taylor Adams one-out single in the fourth - and one walk - an Adams walk in the first against Paulson (1-0). Paulson struck out nine for the game and induced a pair of inning-ending double plays.
THE NOTE
San Diego State now trails the all-time series with Brigham Young, 29-25.
STAT OF THE DAY
1B Taylor Adams has reached base safely in all seven games this season.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs continue their play in the 30th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Friday with a doubleheader, beginning at 4:30 p.m. PT against Southern Utah and 7 p.m. PT vs. Cal State Fullerton. The first 100 fans for the CSF game will receive free pink t-shirts.
Brigham Young 3, San Diego State 0
Brigham Young (3-2) 000 010 2 -- 3 5 0
San Diego State (4-3) 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0
Ar. Paulson and K. Erickson; Balint, Faasisila (7) and Umi
W - Ar. Paulson, 1-0; L - Balint, 0-2
HR: Brigham Young, Jensen-McFarlane (1)
San Diego State Drops 3-0 Decision to Brigham Young
