March 30, 2018
SAN DIEGO -
Boise State 3, San Diego State 1 (8 inn.)
San Diego State committed crucial errors in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, which allowed Boise State to escape with a 3-1 win Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (10-22, 1-4 MW) and the Broncos (22-11, 5-3 MW) have each won a 3-1 decision heading into the rubber game at noon PT Saturday.
After squandering numerous opportunities earlier in the game, SDSU finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kelsey Munoz hit a one-out single down the right-field line and was replaced by pinch runner Aris Metcalfe. Metcalfe promptly stole second base and, one batter later, moved to third on a wild pitch on a Shelby Thompson walk. After BS head coach Cindy Ball visited the circle, San Diego State head coach Kathy Van Wyk and associate head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz met with Metcalfe, Thompson and the batter Zaria Meshack. On the very next pitch after the meeting the Aztecs executed a perfect double steal with Metcalfe sliding home and Thompson beating a run down to get to second base.
Boise State, however, tied it in the top of the seventh when Justene Molina scored from third on a two-out error by the Aztecs.
After SDSU left runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh, Boise State took advantage of another San Diego State error to extend the inning and score on a sacrifice fly by Morgan Lamb and subsequent homer by Jessica McKay.
All three runs by the Broncos were unearned against Aztec pitchers Julie McDonald (4.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 K, 1 BB), Marissa Moreno (2.0 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 0 H, 1 K, 1 BB) and Alex Formby (7-9) (1.2 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1K, 0 BB). Additionally, the SDSU trio limited BS to an 0-for-10 outing with runners on base and 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
San Diego State had plenty of opportunities to score in the game, but left 10 runners on base and was just 2-for-15 (.133) with runners on base and 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Aztecs left at least one runner on base in every innings except the eighth when they went in order against BS pitcher Gianna Manca.
Katie Byrd had two hits to lead the SDSU offense, while three others - Kiera Wright (1B, BB), Munoz (H, HBP) and Iesha Hill (BB, HBP) - also reached base safe twice.
NOTE I
The San Diego State pitching staff has allowed just 11 hits over two games against Boise State, which came into the weekend ranked third in the country with a .351 average. The Broncos are just 11-for-55 (.200) against the Aztecs over the first two games in the series.
NOTE II
The Aztecs dropped to 1-5 this season in extra-inning games.
UP NEXT
SDSU continues its weekend series with Boise State with the rubber game at noon PT Saturday.
Boise State 3, San Diego State 1 (8 innings)
Boise State (22-11, 5-3 MW) 000 000 12 -- 3 4 2
San Diego State (10-22, 1-4 MW) 000 001 00 -- 1 6 2
Mancha and Sullivan; McDonald, Moreno (5), Formby (7) and Sturdivant
W - Mancha, 10-3; L - Formby, 7-9