AZTEC SOFTBALL CLAIMS SERIES WITH 10-6 WIN AT BOISE STATE

SDSU leads the country with a .359 average this season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 23, 2017 (Boise) - The San Diego State softball team scored 10 runs over the first four innings and never looked back in a 10-6 win Sunday afternoon at Boise State. The victory gave the Aztecs (25-15, 9-6 MW) the series over the Broncos (25-17, 7-11 MW).

SDSU, which has now won its last three series and seven out of its last eight games, raced out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to four hits, a BSU error and a passed ball. Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) came through first with a two-run single to plate Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) and Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS). Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.) later singled down the left-field line to score Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.).

Boise State answered in the bottom half, finally scoring off San Diego State starter Marissa Moreno (Torrance, Calif.). Moreno had retired the first 11 batters she faced over the weekend (three perfect innings in Saturday’s win and first two batters today), but the Broncos put together a two-out rally with four consecutive hits, highlighted by an RBI single Morgan Lamb and a two-run double by Cassidy Edwards.

The Aztecs responded with some clutch two-out hitting in the second. Meshack got things going with an infield single, then stole second base before Byrd’s double gave SDSU a 4-3 lead. Peres followed with a bloop single to right-center field to score Byrd. After Peres stole second and Sturdivant was walked on four pitches, Cable singled up the middle, which allowed Peres to score and make it at 6-3 game.

San Diego State loaded the bases once again in the third on two hits and a fielder’s choice. Byrd was then hit by a pitch by BSU starting pitcher Christina Washington and Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.) scored. Paige Reimann replaced Washington in the circle to face Peres, who ripped a double to left field to plate Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.) and Meshack. Reimann got Boise State out of the inning, though, getting Sturdivant to fly out to right field and Cable to ground out to first base.

The Broncos stopped the bleeding in the third with a two-out, solo home run by Makenzie Sullivan.

The Aztecs kept up their offense in the fourth as Taylor Stewart (Bellflower, Calif.) drew a walk and was replaced by Megan Smith (Valencia, Calif.). Thompson followed with a double to left-center to put a pair of runners in scoring positon with no outs. Reimann struck out Jaylene Ignacio (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino HS) and Wright, but in between Smith raced home on a passed ball. Meshack then grounded out to the BSU shortstop to end the inning.

Boise State scored in the fourth on an infield single by Shaelee Pearson that plated Edwards. Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) relieved Moreno and got Rebekah Cervanted to line into a double play to Thompson at shortstop, who flipped it to Byrd at second to get SDSU out of the inning.

The Broncos threatened again in the fifth when Tatiana Sorokina and Izzy Serrano led off with singles. Romero got Sullivan to pop out to Sturdivant at third base in foul territory with the first out, but Lamb followed with a single up the middle to score Sorokina. After a brief conversation by San Diego State head coach Kathy Van Wyk with the team, Romero struck out Edwards looking and got Kora Wade to ground out to Byrd at second to get the Aztecs out of the inning.

Neither team would score the rest of the game.

The Aztecs had 13 hits in the contest to remain at .359 for the season, the top mark in the country out of 291 teams.

Meshack had three hits, three runs and a stolen base, while Peres added three hits, three RBIs, two runs and a stolen base.

Cable added two hits with two RBIs and Thompson also recorded two hits and a run, while Sturdivant had a single, two RBIs and two walks. Byrd chipped in with a hit, two RBIs and two runs.

Romero (8-4) picked up the win after allowing one run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings of relief, striking out three. Moreno gave up five runs on seven hits and a walk over 3 1/3 innings, striking out two.

SDSU heads to first-place Utah State for a weekend series, beginning 4 p.m. MT (3 p.m. PT) in Logan, Utah.

San Diego State 10, Boise State 6

San Diego State (25-15, 9-6 MW)             333 100 0 -- 10 13 0

Boise State (25-17, 7-11 MW)                  301 110 0 -- 6 11 2

Moreno, Romero (4) and Peres; Washington, Reimann (3) and Lamb

W - Romero, 8-4; L - Washington, 14-8

HR: Boise State, Sullivan (8)

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