SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State softball team (19-16, 4-6 Mountain West) took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning against Utah State (15-20, 4-6 MW) on Thursday night at SDSU Softball Stadium, but the Aggies pulled ahead, winning by a 4-3 score.
San Diego State took an early lead in the first inning. Key-annah Pu’a got Alex Bunton to hit into an inning-ending double play in the first inning. In the bottom of the inning, Lala Macario led off with a single. She stole second base and came around to score when Quinn Waiki hit an RBI single back up the middle. Waiki advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Olivia Gigante went back up the middle.
Ava Schaffel entered the circle in the second inning and ended a scoreless frame with a strikeout.
Schaffel added two more shutout innings in the second and third with a strikeout. Macario hit another single to open the third inning but was unable to advance past second base.
In the fourth inning, Schaffel struck out two and kept Utah State off the board. Gigante doubled to begin the bottom of the inning and Angie Yellen bunted for a single with one away and stole her way into scoring position. Both runners were stranded.
Faith Jordan came in to pitch the fifth inning and faced the minimum with a double play and a strikeout.
Utah State tied the game in the top of the sixth inning before SDSU used small ball to reclaim the lead in the bottom of the inning. Kaylee Erickson doubled and pinch runner Kenzee Erickson advanced on a passed ball. Following a walk, Jazmin Ramirez hit an RBI single through the left side. Grace Matej followed her with a single through the right side to score the runner from second base and tie the game. Pu’a struck out the next two hitters and induced a foul out to end the top of the inning. Jade Ignacio led off for the Aztecs and walked. Andrea Tall pinch ran and stole second base. Jazmin Williams hit a ground ball to shortstop and Tall made a nifty move to avoid the tag at third base. Then, Angie Yellen bunted back to the pitcher and Tall sprinted home while the Aggies took the out at first base.
In the seventh inning, Macario made a diving catch on a popup for the first out of the inning. Kya Pratt doubled into the left field corner and advanced on a passed ball. The Aztecs intentionally walked Erickson before Pratt scored on a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game. Erickson moved into scoring position on a passed ball before coming around to score the go-ahead run when Ramirez doubled into the gap in left center field. Pu’a got a fly ball to right field to finally end the inning. SDSU was unable to get any runners on in the latter half and Utah State won 4-3.
THE NOTE
San Diego State’s two double plays turned matched a season high.
UP NEXT
San Diego State resumes the series against Utah State at 6 p.m. PT on Friday and the series finale is set for noon on Saturday. Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Mountain West Network is Aztec Kids Club Day featuring free children’s activities including a balloon artist and face painter.
Utah State 4, San Diego State 3
Utah State (15-20, 4-6) 000 002 2 – 4 8 0
San Diego State (19-16, 4-6) 200 001 0 – 3 6 2
W – Pindel, 7-5; L – Pu’a, 4-6
HR: None