Junior right-hander Erica Romero helped the San Diego State softball gain a split in Saturday’s doubleheader with a 2-1 win against Weber State University after replacing freshman right-hander Julie McDonald in the fourth inning.
Romero retired 12 batters in a row after coming in for McDonald.
“She was outstanding today and kept us in the game,” head coach Kathy Van Wyk said of Romero, who is now 1-0 on the season.
The doubleheader Saturday at Cal State Fullerton University started with a 3-2 loss against University of Texas, San Antonio.
“They got the clutch hits,” Van Wyk said, referring to the loss against UTSA.
SDSU faces UTSA one more time in the Titan Classic on Sunday
“We’ve got to hit better,” Van Wyk said. “We’ve got to get the clutch hits.”
The damage came in the top of the third when UTSA scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead over SDSU.
The Aztecs had an opportunity in the bottom of fourth when freshman Kiera Wright was sent in to pinch run for junior Frankie Orlando at third base, but junior Jaylene Ignacio struck out swinging, leaving Wright stranded.
The Aztecs rallied against Weber State when leadoff hitter and shortstop, senior Samantha Camello, tripled in the first SDSU at-bat of the game. Camello then scored on a single by senior second baseman Leia Ruiz.
Weber State tied up the game in the top of the third inning when senior shortstop Aubrey Whitmer hit a solo home run.
The game-winning run for the Aztecs came in the bottom of a wild sixth inning. Van Wyk sent in Wright to pinch run forjunior Sydnee Cable at third base. Wright then scored when Orlando reached first base on a fielding error. The inning also saw two errors by the Wildcats and two pinch runners for the Aztecs.
“We found a way to win the second game,” said Van Wyk, who started the same lineup for both games.
One player missing from Saturday’s action was sophomore catcher Jenavee Peres. She was hit in the head and suffered a concussion while running the bases in the home opener Friday, Van Wyk said.
Now Peres has to go through the “concussion protocol,” which puts her out for a minimum of seven days, Van Wyk said.
“SDSU has a very strict protocol,” Van Wyk said.
Once Peres is symptom-free she will start with riding the bike to see if headaches persist and then move to light jogging, Van Wyk said.
“If it has to happen I’m glad it happened in this part of the season,” Van Wyk said.
Freshman Molly Sturdivant caught both games for the Aztecs and got a pair of hits, one in each game.
“Molly did a fantastic job today,” Van Wyk said. “Defensively we did OK without Jenavee, but offensively we missed her.”
The Aztecs also split its two games on opening day with a 14-2 win over Canisius College and an 8-4 loss against Cal State Fullerton, Van Wyk’s alma mater.
“It’s always fun to come out and play against the alma mater,” Van Wyk said. “It’s always more fun to win.”
