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Aztecs beat Boston University 11-10 in eight innings and fall to Harvard 5-4
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo: Molly Sturdivant homered in each game as SDSU split Friday in Fullerton. Courtesy goaztecs.com
March 10, 2017 (Fullerton, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team split a pair of one-run games on the second day of the Louisville Slugger Classic Friday at Cal State Fullerton. The Aztecs (13-9) first defeated Boston Univ., 11-10, in eight innings before falling to Harvard, 5-4, in the nightcap.
In the opener, SDSU had 13 hits, but committed a season-high five errors to keep the Terriers (7-12) in the game.
San Diego State broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the top of the fifth inning when a sacrifice fly by junior Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) scored redshirt freshman Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.).
The Aztecs added two runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Peres, which plated Wright and sophomore Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS).
BU tied it up at 7-7, however, with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, mainly thanks to a two-run error after an RBI double by Alex Heinen.
After getting out of the inning, SDSU seemed to put the game out of reach with four runs in the international tiebreaker eighth inning, all with two outs. Senior Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) singled in freshman Kristen Parker (Mira Mesa, Calif./Mira Mesa HS), junior Taylor Stewart (Bellflower, Calif.) scored on a Boston error, Ignacio scored on a Byrd single and Wright scored on a Sturdivant single.
The Terriers would not go away, scoring on a sac fly and a two-run single to make it 11-10, San Diego State.
Aztec senior pitcher Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) settled down and got Alexa Ponce to ground out to Sturdivant at third to secure the win.
Peres was 3-for-4 with a homer, double and four RBIs to pace the SDSU offense, while Ignacio had two hits, including a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Sturdivant homered with two RBIs as part of a two-hit effort, and senior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Byrd added two hits apiece.
Romero (4-2 with a loss later in the day) got the win after allowing four unearned runs on two hits and a hit batter in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Junior Alex Formby (Orange, Calif.) started the game and gave up four runs on four hits and a walk over three innings. Freshman Marissa Moreno (Torrance, Calif.) pitched the middle 3 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on three hits and one walk, striking out one.
San Diego State rallied late in the nightcap, but was unable to overcome a four-run sixth inning for the Crimson (4-2) in a 5-4 loss.
Down, 4-1, after Harvard scored four times on a two-run double, and RBI single and an error, the Aztecs scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a solo home run by Sturdivant and ending with an RBI single by Cable to plate freshman Megan Smith (Valencia, Calif.).
The Crimson added an insurance run in the seventh on a RBI groundout.
SDSU made one last effort in the bottom of the inning, as Byrd and Wright led off with back-to-back singles, and moved up a base on a groundout by Peres. Sturdivant followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Byrd. Smith followed with a four-pitch walk, but Cable fouled out to left field to give Harvard the win.
San Diego State outhit Harvard, 12-8, in the game, including two hits apiece by Sturdivant (2 RBI, R), Byrd and Stewart.
Romero took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings, while striking out three. Moreno gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1/3 innings, and sophomore Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) yielded one run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.
The Aztecs return to action Saturday with games against Eastern Michigan (10 a.m. PT) and Longwood (12:30 p.m. PT).
Game 1: San Diego State 11, Boston Univ. 10 (8 innings)
San Diego State 220 010 24 -- 11 13 5
Boston Univ. (7-12) 103 000 33 -- 10 9 2
Formby, Moreno (4), Romero (6) and Orlando, Peres (7); Magane, Akers (7), Magane (8) and Heinen
W - Romero, 4-1; L - Akers, 3-3
HR: San Diego State, Peres (5), Sturdivant (3), Ignacio (2); Boston Univ., Martinez
Game 2: Harvard 5, San Diego State 4
Harvard (4-2) 000 004 1 -- 5 8 1
San Diego State (13-9) 000 102 1 -- 4 12 1
Duncan, Smith (5), Duncan (6) and Shively; Romero, Moreno (6), McDonald (6) and Peres
W - Smith, 3-0; L - Romero, 4-2; SV - Duncan, 2
HR: San Diego State, Sturdivant (4)
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