March 22, 2007
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego State’s Melissa Owens (8-6) tossed a three-hit complete-game shutout in the nightcap and the Aztecs (21-11) rallied from four runs down in the opener to sweep No. 20 Georgia Tech (27-9), 5-4 and 1-0, on Wednesday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. Senior Caitlin Lever led the offensive attack for the Jackets, going 3-for-6, with a home run and three runs batted in.
Senior Sarah Wood (4-1) was the tough luck loser in game two for Tech, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, one run, no earned runs and struck out five. Junior Brittany Barnes went 2-for-3 in game one, with a double. Sophomore Jennifer Yee went 2-for-4 in game one to help the Jackets offensively.
Sophomore Lacey Richardson (2-1) tallied the loss in the opener, coming into the game in relief in the fifth inning, scattering three hits and allowed two earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. Junior Whitney Humphreys (11-3) threw the first 4.0 innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs and struck out two in a no decision.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets struck for four runs in the top of the fourth inning as Lever smashed a three-run home run to left field after Yee and sophomore Whitney Haller singled. After a two-out double by Barnes, sophomore Blair Shimandle drove in Barnes on an infield single as the lead grew to four.
The Aztecs tallied five consecutive hits in the bottom half of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on RBI hits by Melissa Owens, Tariyn Casillas and Kasey Mytinger to cut Tech’s lead to one, 4-3. With the bases loaded and no outs, Tech recorded an out at home plate from the shortstop and recorded a double play as SDSU tried to score after a fly out to left field, but Shimandle made a perfect throw to nail her at the plate and preserve the lead.
The Aztecs put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth inning after a leadoff walk and a stolen base where the ball beat the runner to the bag, but the runner was called safe. After a sacrifice bunt moved her over to third base, Richardson recorded a big pop out to first base. SDSU’s Dani Sidoti then singled up the middle on the first pitch to tie the game at four after six innings of play.
The Rambling Wreck were unable to capitalize on a one-out pinch-hit triple by senior Kristina Hull in the top of the seventh inning as junior Aileen Morales grounded to second base and junior Stephanie Butler, who re-entered the game to run for Hull, was thrown out at the plate to keep the game tied at 4-4.
The Aztecs would win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after a leadoff walk and double, Casillas grounded to short and Morales fired home after a bobble, but the runner was called safe on a bang-bang play to hand the Jackets their third loss in four games, 5-4.
Tech scored four runs, on nine hits and had no errors, while SDSU scored five runs, on nine hits and had no errors.
In game two, the Aztecs grabbed the first lead in the bottom of the third inning as Tamani Wells singled up the middle to plate an unearned run as Tech trailed 1-0 after three innings of play.
Lever led off the top of the fourth inning with an infield single to shortstop and then stole second base. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch, but the Jackets could not score as SDSU’s Owens struck out the next three batters as the Aztecs held on to their one-run lead, 1-0.
Owens would take care of the rest, retiring nine of the last 10 batters she faced to blank the Jackets for the second time in five games.
The Jackets had no runs, on three hits and committed one error, while SDSU scored one run, on four hits and had two errors.
Tech will return to ACC action this weekend as the Jackets host defending ACC champion NC State (20-11, 2-1 ACC) at Glenn Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and a single game beginning at Noon on Sunday. All Tech home games are free admission.
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