San Diego State’s game against UC Santa Barbara boiled down to oneswing. UCSB’s Loren Thornburg was dealing a no-hitter when JannaKovensky stepped up to the plate with two outs in the sixth. SummerEhrsam, who had reached on an error represented the tying run atthird.
“I was trying to hit a hard ground ball through the infield to tryto score Summer,” Kovensky said. “I knew if we could get one run inwe could get a rally going.”
Kovensky didn’t accomplish what she set out to do, though. Insteadof the ball sneaking past the shortstop, it landed on the far side ofthe left field wall. One swing, two runs, and a 2-1 victory.
The Gauchos (10-22) scored their lone run in the first inning whenKatie Oliver singled home Ashley Groefsema.
SDSU (23-15-1) pitcher Bre DeSanta surrendered just that one runwhile giving up eight hits, bringing her record up to .500 (7-7).
The UCSB hitters scrapped for those hits, only three leaving theinfield.
“They had really good hitters,” DeSanta said. “They were patient,put the ball in play and made me work pretty hard.”
Thornburg (5-12) gave up just the one hit to Kovensky in takingthe loss.
Sunday Split
The Aztecs split a doubleheader Sunday with St. Mary’s (9-24),taking the first game and losing the second.
Head coach Kathy Van Wyk said the team struggled in the contests.
“We’re not playing focused, intense softball right now,” Van Wycksaid. “I can’t put my finger on the reason, but I think the team willbattle back soon.”
The Gaels came out swinging in the day’s second game, winning 6-2.St. Mary’s scored two runs on three hits in the first inning.
The Red and Black answered back in the bottom of the frame withtwo runs of their own, but it was all they would get.
The Gaels’ added a run in the fifth and three more in the seventhen route to victory. The Aztecs used all four pitchers in the game,with Jeni Tornquist getting the start. Tornquist lasted three inningsbefore being relieved by Jessi Green, (7-4) who took the loss afterpitching one and a third and giving up one run.
The first game saw SDSU come out strong, picking up a 4-2 win.
The Aztecs scored one run in the first when Joann Figueroa scoredon a groundout by Tiffany Goudy.
SDSU poured it on in the second, scoring three runs. The inningfeatured RBI singles by Danielle Touhey and Figueroa along with a RBItriple by Kellie Nordhagan.
Saint Mary’s two runs came in the fourth on a two-run single byClaudia Williams.
Gregory (4-1) notched the win for the Aztecs hurling four inningswhile giving up two runs on just three hits and DeSanta picked up herfourth save closing out the last two frames.
Looking Ahead
SDSU will start conference play this weekend, hosting Utah and BYUin doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
“I’m excited because I think we should win the conference and getto regionals,” Kovensky said.
The Utes (10-26) come in trying to break a seven-game losingstreak. Utah is currently leading the MWC in hits with 213.
The Cougars (19-11) are fresh off an upset 5-4 win over No. 2Stanford. They are led by Oli Keohohou who is hitting at a blazing.465 clip with 14 homers, 31 RBI, and 38 runs.
