PROVO -- In a battle for first place in the Mountain West Conference, BYU softball dropped a 9-4 decision to San Diego State at Gail Miller Field on Friday. With the loss the Cougars are 30-10 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain West Conference while the Aztecs improve to 27-11 overall and 5-1 in league play.

“It was a disappointing game,” BYU coach Gordon Eakin said. “Outside the first inning, it seemed like they wanted it more. We’ll try to correct that and come out a different team tomorrow.”

Caschjen Atagi, Angeline Quiocho and Jessica Fitu all went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead BYU. Starting pitcher Christine Zinanti went 5.1 innings and allowed five runs — three earned. Paige Affleck took the loss in relief.

Brittany Knudsen paced the Aztecs with three hits and five RBIs in four at bats. Kristin May added a 2-for-3 effort at the plate to go with two runs and an RBI.

BYU jumped out to a lead in a hurry, manufacturing three runs on four hits, a walk and a double steal in the bottom of the first. With runners on second and third, Atagi went to work, singling up the middle to score J.C. Clayton and then triggering a double steal to send Quiocho home. Atagi later scored when Fitu’s infield single sent her home from third.

San Diego State got on the board when Kristin May homered off Zinanti to lead off the second inning. The Aztecs added a second run in the top of the fourth when May scored on a Jen Wisneski ground out.

Knudsen gave San Diego State its first lead of the night as she stroked a two-run double to left center in the fifth inning, giving the Aztecs a 4-3 advantage. Justeen Maeva added to the lead, following Knudsen with an RBI single to right center. BYU got out of the inning with two nice defensive plays as Kristin Delahoussaye picked off a runner at home and Atagi sprinted to catch a fly ball in foul territory.

With San Diego State leading 5-3, Knudsen struck again in the top of the sixth as she blasted a three-run homerun to centerfield to make the score 8-3.

Trailing 9-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, Quiocho gave BYU some life as she blasted a solo shot to left field. It was not enough to spark a rally, however, as the Cougars went down in order from there.

BYU will look to even the score with San Diego State and regain first place in the conference on Saturday, April 24, at 2 p.m. MT at Gail Miller Park. Listen to the game live on BYU Radio.

BYU COUGAR SOFTBALL 2010

San Diego Stat Univ. at Brigham Young Univ.

Apr 23, 2010 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)

San Diego Stat Univ. 9 (27-11,5-1 MWC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.

------------------------------------------------------------

REIFSCHNEIDER, F. lf..... 4 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 .301

CAMELLO, Jessica 2b...... 4 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 .372

KNUDSEN, Brittany cf..... 4 2 3 5 0 0 0 1 0 .431

MAEVA, Justeen 3b........ 4 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 3 .352

ALNES, Monica 1b......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 4 .274

MAY, Kristin c........... 3 2 2 1 1 0 11 0 2 .312

WOLF, Traci rf........... 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 .300

ROSE, Ashley dp.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087

MAY, Kamerin ph......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297

WISNESKI, Jen ss......... 3 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 .287

BEASLEY, Samantha p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500

Totals................... 33 9 11 8 6 4 21 6 10

Brigham Young Univ. 4 (30-10,5-2 MWC)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.

------------------------------------------------------------

DELAHOUSSAYE,Kristin 2b.. 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 4 0 .298

CLAYTON, J.C. ss......... 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 3 1 .383

QUIOCHO, Angeline 3b..... 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 2 .426

RAMIREZ, Andrea 1b....... 4 0 0 0 0 2 10 0 2 .378

DAVIS-ATAGI,Caschjen lf.. 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 .333

PURCELL-FITU, Jess. c.... 4 0 2 1 0 0 6 1 0 .341

WILLARD, Delaney rf...... 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 .265

DUGAS, Jessica cf........ 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 .263

MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiff. dp.. 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 .218

ZINANTI, Christie p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 -

AFFLECK, Paige p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -

HOWELL, Hannah p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -

Totals................... 30 4 9 3 3 11 21 12 8

Score by Innings R H E

-----------------------------------------

San Diego Stat Univ. 010 133 1 - 9 11 0

Brigham Young Univ.. 300 000 1 - 4 9 3

-----------------------------------------

E - CLAYTON 2(16); QUIOCHO(10). DP - Aztecs 1. LOB - Aztecs 10; Cougars 8.

2B - KNUDSEN(7); ALNES(8). HR - KNUDSEN(1); MAY, Kr.(3); QUIOCHO(16). HBP -

KNUDSEN. SB - CAMELLO(4); QUIOCHO(7); DAVIS-ATAGI(2). CS - MAEVA(1);

WOLF(1).

San Diego Stat Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA

--------------------------------------------------------

BEASLEY, Samantha... 7.0 9 4 4 3 11 30 33 135 0.95

Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP ERA

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ZINANTI, Christie... 5.1 5 5 3 6 3 21 28 119 4.08

AFFLECK, Paige...... 1.2 4 3 2 0 1 9 9 33 2.38

HOWELL, Hannah...... 0.0 2 1 1 0 0 3 3 15 4.62

Win - BEASLEY, S. (22-6). Loss - AFFLECK (21-8). Save - None.

HBP - by ZINANTI (KNUDSEN). PB - PURCELL-FITU(7). Inherited runners/scored:

ZINANTI 2/0; AFFLECK 2/2; HOWELL 2/2. Pitches/strikes: BEASLEY, S. 135/88;

ZINANTI 119/67; AFFLECK 33/21; HOWELL 15/9.

Umpires - HP: Anthony Lewis 1B: Patrick Kime 3B: Brett Higgins

Start: 6:03 pm Time: 2:52 Attendance: 575

Weather: 48 degrees, overcast

ZINANTI faced 2 batters in the 5th.

HOWELL faced 3 batters in the 6th.

Game: BY-SD1

Play-by-Play

BYU COUGAR SOFTBALL 2010

San Diego Stat Univ. at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play

Apr 23, 2010 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)

Score by Innings R H E

-----------------------------------------

San Diego Stat Univ. 010 133 1 - 9 11 0

Brigham Young Univ.. 300 000 1 - 4 9 3

-----------------------------------------

San Diego Stat Univ. starters: 4/lf REIFSCHNEIDE; 11/2b CAMELLO; 39/cf KNUDSEN;

21/3b MAEVA; 9/1b ALNES; 2/c MAY, Kr.; 10/rf WOLF; 20/dp ROSE; 24/ss WISNESKI;

7/p BEASLEY, S.;

Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 16/ss CLAYTON; 33/3b QUIOCHO;

31/1b RAMIREZ; 9/lf DAVIS-ATAGI; 10/c PURCELL-FITU; 28/rf WILLARD; 19/cf DUGAS;

20/dp MESSERSCHMID; 14/p ZINANTI;

San Diego Stat Univ. 1st - REIFSCHNEIDE walked (3-1 BFBBB). CAMELLO

reached on a fielder's choice (2-2 BSFFB); REIFSCHNEIDE advanced to second.

KNUDSEN reached on a fielder's choice (0-2 KKF); CAMELLO advanced to second;

REIFSCHNEIDE out at third 3b unassisted. MAEVA struck out swinging (0-2 KKS).

ALNES lined out to 2b (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to ss (3-2 BBKFB).

CLAYTON singled to shortstop (3-2 BBBKF). QUIOCHO singled to left field (2-2

KFFBBF); CLAYTON advanced to second. RAMIREZ grounded out to 2b (2-1 BFB);

QUIOCHO advanced to second; CLAYTON advanced to third. DAVIS-ATAGI singled to

center field, RBI (2-1 BKB); QUIOCHO advanced to third; CLAYTON scored.

DAVIS-ATAGI stole second; QUIOCHO stole home. PURCELL-FITU singled to pitcher,

advanced to second on the throw, RBI (0-2 FK); DAVIS-ATAGI scored. WILLARD

walked (3-0 BBBB). DUGAS struck out looking (0-2 KKK). 3 runs, 4 hits, 0

errors, 2 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 2nd - MAY, Kr. homered to left center, RBI (2-2

FFBBF). WOLF grounded out to 2b (1-2 KFFB). ROSE grounded out to 2b (3-2

BBBFF). WISNESKI grounded out to p (3-2 BBSFB). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0

LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - MESSERSCHMID struck out looking (1-2 BKFK).

DELAHOUSSAYE singled to right field (1-1 BK). CLAYTON singled to right field

(1-1 KB); DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second. QUIOCHO struck out swinging (0-2

FSS). RAMIREZ grounded out to p. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 3rd - REIFSCHNEIDE grounded out to p (2-2 BBKFF).

CAMELLO struck out looking (2-2 KBFBK). KNUDSEN singled up the middle (1-2

FBF). MAEVA walked (3-0 BBBB); KNUDSEN advanced to second. KNUDSEN

interference. ALNES reached on a fielder's choice; MAEVA advanced to second;

KNUDSEN out at second ss unassisted, interference. MAEVA out at second ss

unassisted, interference. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - DAVIS-ATAGI singled to center field (2-1 BKB).

PURCELL-FITU hit into double play cf to 2b to 1b; DAVIS-ATAGI out on the play.

WILLARD struck out looking (1-2 KBSK). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 4th - Batter set to MAY, Kr.. MAY, Kr. walked (3-0

BBBB). WOLF singled to center field (2-2 BKBKFF); MAY, Kr. advanced to third.

WOLF advanced to second. MAY, Ka. pinch hit for ROSE. MAY, Ka. grounded out to

ss (1-2 SFB). WISNESKI grounded out to 2b, RBI (1-0 B); MAY, Kr. scored. WOLF

advanced to third. WOLF out at home c unassisted. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0

LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 4th - DUGAS grounded out to 3b (2-1 BBF).

MESSERSCHMID reached on a fielder's choice (0-1 S). DELAHOUSSAYE walked (3-2

KKBBBB); MESSERSCHMID advanced to second. CLAYTON flied out to lf (0-1 K).

QUIOCHO fouled out to 1b (3-2 BKKBFB). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 5th - REIFSCHNEIDE singled to third base (2-1 BSB).

CAMELLO reached on an error by 3b (0-2 KFF); REIFSCHNEIDE advanced to second,

advanced to third on the throw. AFFLECK to p for ZINANTI. CAMELLO stole second.

KNUDSEN doubled to left field, 2 RBI (2-2 BSKFB); CAMELLO scored; REIFSCHNEIDE

scored, unearned. MAEVA singled to right center, RBI (3-2 FBBKFB); KNUDSEN

scored. ALNES grounded out to 3b (0-0); MAEVA advanced to second. MAY, Kr.

singled to pitcher (1-0 B); MAEVA advanced to third. MAEVA out at home p to 2b

to c, caught stealing. MAY, Kr. advanced to second. WOLF fouled out to lf (1-1

BK). 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 5th - RAMIREZ struck out swinging (3-2 BBFKFBFFFS).

DAVIS-ATAGI struck out swinging (1-2 KKBFS). PURCELL-FITU singled up the middle

(1-0 B). WILLARD struck out swinging (2-2 BKKBFS). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors,

1 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 6th - MAY, Ka. grounded out to ss (2-2 BBKF).

WISNESKI singled to pitcher. REIFSCHNEIDE struck out swinging (2-2 FBBFFS).

CAMELLO reached on an error by ss (1-1 BF); WISNESKI advanced to second. HOWELL

to p for AFFLECK. KNUDSEN homered to center field, 3 RBI (2-2 BKBS); CAMELLO

scored; WISNESKI scored, unearned. MAEVA reached on an error by ss (3-2

KBBKFB). ALNES doubled to left field (1-1 BK); MAEVA advanced to third. ZINANTI

to p for HOWELL. MAY, Kr. lined out to 1b (3-0 BBB). 3 runs, 3 hits, 2

errors, 2 LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 6th - DUGAS walked (3-1 SBBBB). MESSERSCHMID struck

out swinging (2-2 BSBKFFFFFS). DELAHOUSSAYE struck out looking (1-2 KBFK).

CLAYTON struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

San Diego Stat Univ. 7th - WOLF walked (3-2 KKBBBFB). WOLF out at second

c to 2b, caught stealing. MAY, Ka. singled to right field (3-2 BKBFB). WISNESKI

walked (3-1 BSBBB); MAY, Ka. advanced to second. REIFSCHNEIDE grounded out to

ss (0-0); WISNESKI advanced to second; MAY, Ka. advanced to third. MAY, Ka.

scored on a passed ball, scored, unearned. WISNESKI advanced to third. CAMELLO

walked. KNUDSEN hit by pitch (1-1 BK); CAMELLO advanced to second. MAEVA struck

out swinging (3-2 BBKBFS). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Brigham Young Univ. 7th - QUIOCHO homered to left field, RBI (0-0).

RAMIREZ struck out swinging (0-2 SSS). DAVIS-ATAGI fouled out to lf (1-2 KBK).

PURCELL-FITU flied out to ss (0-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

PROVO -- With the semester near complete, BYU continues to battle its way through the heart of their conference season as it faces UNLV and San Diego State this coming Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

BYU (29-9, 4-1) will play UNLV on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m. (MST) for the first time this season.

The last three times these two teams met, the Cougars beat the Rebels 7-1, 5-2 and 6-1.

This game will be followed by back-to-back games against SDSU on Friday and Saturday at 6 and 2 p.m. respectively.

Although the Cougars have the best overall record in the conference with 29 wins, they have fallen into second place in the MWC after their 3-7 loss to Colorado State University.

SDSU is currently in first place with a 26-10 overall record.

Live stats will be provided for all three games and can be found at www.byucougars.com.

Live audio will also be provided for the game on Saturday as well.