JAYLENE IGNACIO'S WALK-OFF HIT LIFTS SDSU SOFTBALL PAST SAN JOSE STATE 7-6

Aztecs beat Spartans in nine innings to claim weekend series

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 2, 2017 (San Diego) - Jaylene Ignacio’s (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Kristen Parker (Mira Mesa, Calif./Mira Mesa HS) to give San Diego State a walk-off, 7-6 victory over San José State Sunday at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (20-14, 4-5 MW) claimed the series with the win.

SDSU had taken its first lead in the bottom of the sixth at 5-4 when Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led off with a home run to right field. It was her fourth homer of the season and second of the weekend series.

The Spartans (23-12, 3-3 MW) forced extra innings in the seventh when a Casey Watt single scored Brittany Abacherli.

SJSU took back the lead in the top of the ninth as Cassidy Clark’s double down the left-field line plated Georgia Blair. San José State ended up loading the bases with two outs, but San Diego State reliever Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) got out of the jam by getting Emma Enzminger to ground back to her in the circle. Formby was able to toss it to Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) to force out Chelsea Jenner at the plate.

The Aztecs loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS), and back-to-back walks by Peres and Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.). Pitcher Colette Riggs appeared to get the Spartans out of the inning after getting Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) to ground into a fielder’s choice and Cable to fly out to short left field. Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.), however, drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to score Peres with the tying run. Ignacio then singled off the glove of a diving Clark at second base to knock in Parker with the walk-off run.

SDSU spotted SJSU a 4-0 lead before rallying back for a second straight day. San Diego State got its first run in the third when Byrd’s single scored Ignacio. The Aztecs then tied it in the fifth thanks once again to Byrd’s heroics. After Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) and Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.) each singled, Byrd cleared the bases with a home run over the left-field wall. It was Byrd’s third homer of the year.

SDSU and San José State combined for 28 hits and 11 walks in the game with San Diego State accounting for 13 hits and six walks.

Byrd led the way by going 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs, a run, walk and hit by pitch. Cable, Ignacio and Peres added two hits apiece, while Thompson had a hit and two walks. Meshack also reached twice with a single and a walk.

Formby (6-3) picked up the win for the second consecutive day after allowing three runs on 11 hits and four walks over 7 1/3 innings of relief, while striking out two. Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) got the start and yielded three runs on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings, striking out one.

The Aztecs have their bye next weekend before hosting New Mexico in a three-game series from April 13-15.

Notes:

• SDSU improved to 20-4 this season when leading at any point in the game, 16-1 when leading after six innings, 13-7 in day games this year, 11-1 when scoring at least seven runs, 7-1 in games played on Sunday, 5-4 in one-run games and 2-0 in extra-inning games
• San Diego State, which came into the weekend ranked fourth in the country out of 291 teams with a .351 average, has double-digit hits in 19 of the team’s 34 games this year
• The Aztecs are now 14-5 when homering at least once in a game (6-9 when homerless)
• Byrd tied a career high with four RBIs
• Byrd recorded her 11^th multi-hit game and fourth with at least three hits
• Byrd also had her fifth multi-RBI game
• Peres had her team-leading 15^th multi-hit game
• Cable had her 12^th multi-hit game of the season 
• Ignacio registered her ninth multi-hit game and second game-winning RBI
• Meshack reached base safely for the 13^th consecutive game, the longest streak of her career
• Thompson is the only SDSU player to start all 34 games this year
• Formby pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings

San Diego State 7, San José State 6 (9 innings)

San José State (23-12, 3-3 MW)               121 000 101 -- 6 15 0

San Diego State (20-14, 4-5 MW)             001 031 002 -- 7 13 3

Linford, Riggs (6) and Avila; Romero, Formby (2) and Peres

W - Formby, 6-3; L - Riggs, 5-3

HR: San José State, Avila (1); San Diego State, Byrd (3), Cable (4)

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