American society has been built on the principle of success goingto those who earn it. However, when San Diego State and Baylor metSunday in the Compass Bank Invitational in Waco, this was not thecase.
The Lady Bears (23-2), winners of 13 straight, used four unearnedruns and four SDSU (9-9-1) errors to garner a 5-1 victory.
“We came out a little nervous,” Aztecs pitcher Korin Gregory said.”We played a little scared since we were playing a good team, insteadof treating it like any other game.”
The Aztecs got on the scoreboard early, when Kellie Nordhaganscored on a throwing error in the first, but it was all Baylor wouldsurrender.
In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Bears’ Carrie Leerburgknocked in all the runs they would need, with a two-RBI single.Baylor added two more in the second, both unearned, one coming on athrowing error and the other on an RBI single by Kristen Lancaster.The Texans scored their final run in the fifth on an error.
Bre DeSanta (1-4) took the loss for the Aztecs, giving up six hitsand three walks while striking out six. Joni Miller (10-1) gave upfive hits and hurled six strikeouts for Baylor.
SDSU’s matchup against Stephen F. Austin in Saturday’s second gamefeatured the first Aztec comeback victory of the year, 3-1.
After SFA (4-16) scored a run in the first, the next four inningswent scoreless. In the sixth, the Red and Black took a 2-1 lead onRBIs by Sarah Hershman, who also had two doubles, and Kelcy Murphy.SDSU added an insurance run in the seventh when Summer Ehrsam scoredon an error.
Gregory (3-0) went the distance for the Aztecs, giving up just twohits and one run. Head coach Kathy Van Wyk was impressed withGregory’s pitching throughout the tournament.
“She did a fantastic job,” she said. “She’s been really solid inhitting all her targets and using her defense.”
SDSU’s first game Saturday ended in a 2-0 loss to Akron. The Zips'(2-3) Lisa Keenan (1-1) shut down the Aztec offense, surrenderingjust two hits, both to Janna Kovensky.
Friday was a good day for the Red and Black. SDSU defeatedCreighton 3-1 in the second game. Gregory earned the win, and DeSantapicked up her first career save in defeating the Bluejays (5-5).
The Aztecs’ opening game in the tourney was an 8-1 romp ofOakland. Tiffany Goudy went 2-4 with a double and two RBI for SDSU.Jeni Tornquist (2-3) picked up the win over the Golden Grizzlies(1-4).
Danielle Touhey thought the tournament was a learning experience.
“We learned a lot,” she said. “We learned how to fight back whenwe’re down. We need to take what we learned last weekend and use itfor this weekend.”
Three Aztecs earn tournament honors
The heart of SDSU’s lineup was named to the all-tournament team:Kovensky, Goudy and Hershman; the three, four and five hitters,respectively. Hershman, who was named MWC Player of the Week, hadseven hits, three RBI, and three doubles in the tourney. Kovensky hadsix hits and Goudy scored four runs in Waco.
Looking ahead
The Aztecs will hit the road again this weekend for the WorthInvitational in Fullerton. SDSU will face some tough competition inNo. 11 Oregon State (16-4), No. 12 Pacific (10-3), Ohio State (9-1),San Jose State (6-10) and Portland State (1-4).
SDSU will have to improve its defense to come out of next weekendwith a winning record.
Said Van Wyk: “We have to play better defense. Our hitting andpitching have been doing well, but defense wins championships.”
