SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State softball team’s (20-17, 5-7 Mountain West) comeback attempt in the seventh inning came up just short against Utah State (16-21, 5-7 MW) as the team fell 5-4 on Saturday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
Each team scratched a run across in the first inning. Faith Kroening led off for the Aggies and walked, stole second base, advanced on a fly ball and scored on an RBI single. SDSU starter Faith Jordan stranded two runners in scoring position. Lala Macario led off for San Diego State and walked, advanced on an error, moved up to third base on a fly ball and stole home to tie the game. Olivia Gigante also walked in the inning.
Jordan retired the side in order in both the second and third innings. In the bottom of the second, Gabriella Terrones was hit by a pitch and Ally Dueker bunted for a single.
Grace Matej led off with an infield single for the Aggies in the fourth inning. The next batter, Alex Bunton, homered to left to put USU back ahead. Emma French singled in the bottom of the inning and Terrones walked for SDSU.
In the fifth inning, Utah State added on. Keely Gousha walked and Kroening was hit by a pitch before Kya Pratt hit an RBI single. Key-annah Pu’a entered the circle and struck out the next two hitters before getting an inning-ending flyout to strand two runners on base. Quinn Waiki singled in the bottom of the inning.
Pu’a worked around a leadoff single in the sixth. Angie Yellen led off in the bottom of the inning and tripled into right center field. She scored on a ground ball off the bat of Jazmin Williams. Terrones walked once again.
Pratt homered in the top of the seventh to provide an insurance run for the Aggies. Macario led off for the Aztecs and was hit by a pitch. Kaila Pollard drove her in with a double to right center field. Waiki walked to bring the tying run to the plate. Then, Gigante singled through the left side and replay review determined that Pollard scored on the play. The Aztecs trailed by a run with Waiki on second base, Gigante on first and no outs in the inning. Yellen hit a ground ball to third base and Utah State was able to turn a double play, retiring Waiki and Gigante. Williams followed with a single up the middle to get the winning run back on base, but a groundout ended the game.
THE NOTE I
For the second time this weekend, San Diego State manufactured a run in an inning in which it did not have a hit.
THE NOTE II
Gabriella Terrones started both Friday and Saturday’s games, stepping up to the plate five times during that span but did not record an at bat. She walked four times and was hit by a pitch, coming around to score two runs.
UP NEXT
San Diego State wraps up this homestand with a doubleheader against Nevada on Wednesday. The first game is scheduled to start at noon PT with the second to take place around half an hour after the conclusion of the first game. Both contests will be broadcast on Mountain West Network.
Utah State 5, San Diego State 4
Utah State (16-21, 5-7) 100 210 1 – 5 6 2
San Diego State (20-17, 5-7) 100 001 2 – 4 7 0
W – Cochran, 4-3; L – Jordan, 8-5; S – Pindel, 1
HR: Pratt, USU (3)