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SDSU run-rules New Mexico State 10-2 before knocking off No. 17/17 Utah 3-2
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo: Molly Sturdivant homered in each game, including the eventual game-winning home run in SDSU's 3-2 win over No. 17/17 Utah.
February 26, 2017 (Cathedral City, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team swept a pair of games on the final day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Sunday in Cathedral City, Calif., highlighted by a 3-2 come-from-behind win over No. 17/17 Utah. The Aztecs (8-5) also run-ruled New Mexico State, 10-2, in five innings earlier in the day.
In the victory over the Utes (11-1), who came into the game with three consecutive shutouts, including a pair of 3-0 wins over No. 7/8 LSU and No. 15/13 Tennessee, SDSU sophomore Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run over the left-field wall to lead off the top of the sixth inning. It was her second homer of the day (also earlier vs. New Mexico State) and second of the year.
Utah mounted one last comeback in the seventh as Anissa Urtez had a one-out single and moved to second on another single by Heather Bowen. San Diego State freshman Marissa Moreno (Torrance, Calif.) got Hailey Hilburn to ground into a fielder’s choice, making it first and third with two outs. Moreno (4-1) ended it for the Aztecs by inducing Kelly Martinez to pop up to sophomore Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) at second base near the first base foul line.
The Utes had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run by Hannah Flippen.
The Aztecs tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by senior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) to plate junior Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) and when sophomore Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.) scored on Utah’s second error of the inning.
The Utes loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with two outs, but Moreno was able to get the Utes’ cleanup hitter Anissa Urtez to ground out to Byrd at second base on a 3-2 pitch, ending the threat.
SDSU threatened to take its first lead of the game in the fifth as Peres ripped a double to right-center field with two outs. Byrd, who singled right before Peres’ double, was thrown out at home, keeping the game tied at 2-2.
Each team had 10 hits apiece in the game, but San Diego State did not have an error, while Utah had two miscues.
Cable, Peres and redshirt freshman Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.) each had two hits to pace the Aztec offense. Sturdivant had the game-winning homer in the sixth, while freshman Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.) singled and walked.
Moreno got her second win of the day after tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing six hits and two walks, striking out two. Senior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) started and gave up two runs on four hits and a hit batter over 1 1/3 innings.
In the opener, San Diego State scored the first nine runs of the game and never looked back in a 10-2 run-rule win over the Aggies (4-9). The Aztecs scored four in the top of the second inning and five in the fourth before NMSU scored twice in the fourth. SDSU tacked on a final run in the fifth to preserve its second mercy victory of the weekend (and season).
All nine San Diego State batters had either a hit or an RBI, led by senior Jaylene Ignacio’s (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) two hits, two RBIs, two runs and fourth double of the season.
Sturdivant added a three-run home run in the five-run fifth inning and scored two runs. Wright had an RBI single, walk, hit by pitch and her team-leading seventh stolen base of the year, and Thompson scored two runs on a hit, walk and stolen base.
Cable, Peres and Byrd each had an RBI and a run for the Aztecs.
Moreno picked up the winning after tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the circle, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out four. Coupled with the 5 2/3 innings later against Utah, Moreno did not allow a run in 10 1/3 innings on the day. Junior Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.), meanwhile, gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in 1/3 innings of relief.
SDSU begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday against St. John’s at 6 p.m. PT.
Game 1: San Diego State 10, New Mexico State 2 (5 innings)
San Diego State 040 51 -- 10 8 0
New Mexico State (4-9) 000 20 -- 2 4 2
Moreno, Formby (4), Moreno (4) and Peres, Orlando (4); Green, Diaz (4) and Rubio, Shultes (1)
W - Moreno, 3-1; L - Green, 2-5
HR: San Diego State, Sturdivant (1)
Game 2: San Diego State 3, No. 17/17 Utah 2
San Diego State (8-5) 000 201 0 -- 3 10 0
Utah (11-1) 200 000 0 -- 2 10 2
Romero, Moreno (2) and Peres; Viramontes, Donavan (5) and Martinez
W - Moreno, 4-1; L - Donavan, 7-1
HR: San Diego State, Sturdivant (2); Utah, Flippen (2)
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