SAN DIEGO -- In a battle of a pair of 4-1 teams, San Diego State scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and held on for a 3-2 victory over Wichita State Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium.
The Aztecs (5-1) got going in the second when Macey Keester reached on a fielder's choice and wryly took second to catch the Shockers (4-2) off guard. Taylor Okada then drilled a two-out double into left-center field to put SDSU on the scoreboard. Bella Espinoza followed with a bunt single that moved Okada to third before San Diego State executed a double steal that allowed Okada to score another run. Jillian Celis then singled to a diving Sydney McKinney at shortstop, which allowed the speedy Espinoza to score from second for the final run of the game for the Aztecs.
McKinney hit a one-out homer in the top of the third to bring the Shockers to within two runs.
After the SDSU 1-2 combo of Allie Light and Dee Dee Hernandez retired eight consecutive batters, WSU got a run across in the sixth. McKinney led off with her third hit of the game and advanced to second on a throwing error by Hernandez. One batter later, Lauren Lucas doubled to left-center to plate McKinney. Hernandez, however, got Zoe Jones to fly out to Makena Brocki in shallow right field and struck out Lauren Mills to get out of the jam.
After San Diego State went in order in the sixth, Hernandez recorded a 1-2-3 seventh to end the game to record her first save of the season.
Light (1-1) picked up the win after allowing one run on three hits over four innings, while striking out six. Hernandez picked up the save, scattering one unearned run on two hits over three innings of relief, striking out two.
Cali Decker and Mac Barbara recorded two hits apiece for the Aztecs, while Celis singled and walked.
THE NOTE
SDSU held Wichita State to two runs on five hits, going 5-for-26 for a .192 average. The Shockers came into the game averaging 6.4 runs with a .371 average.
THE NOTE II
San Diego State improved to 5-0 on the season when scoring just three or more runs.
STAT OF THE DAY
The Aztecs have won 26 consecutive games when leading after five innings and 26 straight when leading after six.
UP NEXT
SDSU plays host to the 32nd annual Campbell/Cartier Classic this weekend, beginning with Friday games against UC Riverside (4:30 p.m. PT) and Loyola Marymount (7 p.m. PT).
(rv/rv) San Diego State 3, (rv/--) Wichita State 2
Wichita State (4-2) 001 001 0 -- 2 5 0
San Diego State (5-1) 030 000 x -- 3 7 1
Cooper and Brown; Light, Hernandez (5) and Decker
W - Light, 1-1; L - Cooper, 2-1; SV - Hernandez, 1
HR: Wichita State, McKinney (1)
Aztecs Edge Wichita State, 3-2
