SDSU SOFTBALL FALLS TWICE IN LONG BEACH

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Aztecs drop games to No. 22/22 Notre Dame and Long Beach State

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo:  Zaria Meshack had two hits apiece in SDSU's two losses Saturday in Long Beach.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

February 11, 2017 (Long Beach, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday in Long Beach, Calif., falling to No. 22/22 Notre Dame, 5-2, and Long Beach State, 5-1. The Aztecs are now 1-3 on the season.

In the opener, the Fighting Irish (3-1) broke open a 1-1 game with three runs in the top of the fourth and another score in the sixth en route to the 5-2 win.

SDSU had tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when sophomore Aris Metcalfe (Compton, Calif.) stole third and scored on a fielding error by the ND third baseman.

Notre Dame, however, took the lead for good in the fourth on a three-run homer by Melissa Rochford.

The Fighting Irish added another score in the sixth when Katie Marino’s sacrifice fly plated Kimmy Sullivan.

San Diego State responded in the bottom half of the sixth as freshman Shelby Thompson (Benicia, Calif.) hit a one-out triple and scored on a groundout by senior Sydnee Cable (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Junior Iesha Hill (Carlsbad, Calif./Palomar College) followed with a four-pitch walk and was replaced by freshman Megan Smith (Valencia, Calif.). Smith moved to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded after Katie Beriont struck out Aztec senior Ashley Ercolano (Poway, Calif./Poway HS) to end the threat.

SDSU would not get another baserunner in the 5-2 loss.

Thompson had two hits and a run to pace the San Diego State offense, while junior Zaria Meshack (Vallejo, Calif.) added two hits.

Senior Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) took the loss after scattering four runs on five hits and hit batter over four innings, while striking out one. Sophomore Julie McDonald (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS) pitched the final three innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with one strikeout.

In the nightcap, the Aztecs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but the 49ers (3-1-1) scored the final five in a 5-1 LBSU victory.

Redshirt freshman Kiera Wright (Riverside, Calif.) led off the third with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Meshack. Junior Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) then ripped a single to left field to plate Wright with the go-ahead run. LBSU pitcher Christina Clermont got Thompson to fly out to center field, which allowed Meshack to race to third base. Cable followed with a single to left field, but Meshack was thrown out at home. Sophomore Katie Byrd (Santee, Calif./West Hills HS) then flew out to center field to end the inning.

Long Beach State responded with three runs in the bottom half of the third, highlighted by a two-run home run by Aniesa Maulupe and an RBI single by Sammi Gyerman.

The 49ers added insurance runs in the fifth on a two-run single by Julia Lombardi.

Meshack, Peres and senior Frankie Orlando (Roseville, Calif.) had two hits apiece for SDSU, while Wright singled, walked and scored a run.

Alex Formby was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs on five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings of relief. McDonald started the game and gave up one run on two hits and a walk over two innings, while Romero allowed two hits in the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

San Diego State wraps up its opening weekend of play at 11:30 a.m. PT Sunday against Weber State at UCLA in Los Angeles.

Game 1: No. 22/22 Notre Dame 5, San Diego State 2

Notre Dame (3-1)           100 301 0 -- 5 9 1

San Diego State              010 001 0 -- 2 5 0

Beriont, Nasland (7) and McCracken, Heide (7); Romero, McDonald (5) and Peres

W - Beriont, 2-0; L - Romero, 1-1; SV - Nasland, 1

HR: Notre Dame, Rochford (1)

Game 2: Long Beach State 5, San Diego State 1

San Diego State (1-3)      001 000 0 -- 1 8 0

Long Beach State (3-1-1) 003 020 x -- 5 9 1

McDonald, Formby (3), Romero (5) and Orlando, Peres (6); Clermont, Magnett (4) and L. Lombardi

W - Magnett, 1-0; L - Formby, 0-2

HR: Long Beach State, Maulupe (1)

Notre Dame-SDSU box

Long Beach State-SDSU box


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