SAN DIEGO—BYU softball came out flat in its first game of the San Diego Classic, falling to San Diego State 9-1 in five innings at the SDSU Softball Complex on Thursday.

SDSU (9-7) had 12 hits to BYU’s (5-11) seven and the Aztecs were able to piece those hits together to score four runs in both the third and fifth innings to take the five-inning victory.

Marissa Bravo led BYU offensively with two singles from the leadoff spot to extend her current hitting streak to eight games. JC Clayton also had a hit in the game to tie her career hitting record at 15 games. Coryn Tauali'i had the only RBI in the game for BYU in the fourth inning. Hannah Howell started the game, giving up seven hits and five runs to take the loss. Carly Duckworth and Katie Manuma each pitched an inning for BYU in their first appearances of the season.  

The Cougars looked like they would score first when Clayton singled with two outs to start the game. Manuma followed with a walk and then Alexandra Hudson Shamo singled down the left field line. Clayton tried to stretch the hit into an RBI, but was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Howell surrendered a run to the Aztecs in the bottom of the second following two doubles to start the frame. A single placed runners on the corners with one out, but Howell struck out the next batter and a groundout sealed the inning with SDSU up 1-0.

The Aztecs broke the game open in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally. Two doubles and two singles pushed in three runs and forced a pitching change for BYU. Duckworth made her first appearance of the season and walked the first three batters she faced to bring in another run for the Aztecs. A strikeout closed the inning with SDSU up 5-0.

BYU scored its only run in the fourth as Manuma and Tauali’i were able to piece singles together.

Duckworth held the first two batters off base with a strikeout and groundout and then was replaced by Manuma. Manuma, who pitched one inning last year, gave up another double to the Aztecs before forcing the next batter to groundout, ending the bottom of the fourth.

SDSU took advantage of the multiple pitching changes from BYU and pushed in four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat BYU 9-1 due to the eight-run mercy rule after five innings.

Manuma and Duckworth combined for five hits but didn’t give up a single earned run to the Aztecs.

BYU faces Boise State Friday at 9 a.m. PST and Fresno State at 11:30 a.m. PST. Both games can be followed on gametracker. 

PROVO, Utah—The BYU softball team heads to its fourth preseason tournament to take on San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico and Long Beach State Thursday-Saturday in San Diego, Calif at the San Diego Classic.

SAN DIEGO CLASSIC

Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2013

SDSU Softball Stadium

San Diego, Calif.

San Diego State

Thurs., Feb. 28

6 p.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Boise State

Fri., Mar. 1

9 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Fresno State

Fri. Mar. 1

11:30 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

New Mexico

Sat., Mar. 2

11:30 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Long Beach State

Sat., Mar. 2

2 p.m. MST

SDSU Softball Stadium

BYU Quick Hits

• The Cougars played in their last San Diego Classic in 2012 and went 4-1, beating Cal State Northridge, Saint Joseph’s, Long Beach State and Charlotte, while falling 1-0 to San Diego State.
• BYU hasn’t had a 5-10 start to its season since 2001, when it went 5-10 in the first three tournaments of the season and finished with an overall record of 35-26.
• Junior Katie Manuma hit the first grand slam of her career in the last game of the Mary Nutter Classic against UC Santa Barbara. The team lost the game in extra innings, 12-10.
• JC Clayton is currently on a 14-game hitting streak and has gotten a hit in every game but the first of the season. She also earned PCSC Player of the Week.
• Head coach Gordon Eakin is in his 11th season with BYU and has a record of 421-185.

Opponent Notes

San Diego State

The Aztecs are just over .500 with a record of 8-7 this season. They have four players batting over .300 in Kamerin May, Patrice Jackson, Loena Bauer and Kayla Jordan. These four batters combine for 38 of the team’s 44 RBI  and have all 12 home runs for the Aztecs. Danielle O’Toole and Rebecca Arbino lead SDSU from the mound and are sporting a 1.35 and 1.56 ERA, respectively. The two have only given up 21 earned runs in their combined 20 appearances this season. Four of the team’s seven losses have been by less than two runs and they have yet to beat a ranked team, losing to No. 13/14 Arizona, No. 24/22 Kentucky, No. 2/1 Oklahoma, No. 7 Missouri and No. 9/11 Oregon. This tournament will be the first of the season where the Aztecs will not be facing a ranked opponent.

Boise State

The Broncos sit at an even 7-7 on the season and will look to jump above .500 against BYU in their first game of the San Diego Classic. Boise State is 0-2 overall against BYU and hopes it’s top three batters will step up to get past the Cougars. Holly Bourke leads the Broncos with a .385 average. Sarah Barnes and Devon Bridges aren’t far behind, hitting .344 and .340, respectively. Barnes has eight RBI and two home runs while Bridges has a team-high 16 RBI and three home runs. Redshirt junior Rebecca Patton has five of the Bronco’s seven wins and leads with a 3.53 ERA and 32 strikeouts this season. The Broncos were chosen to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference this year behind San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State.

Fresno State

BYU ended the Bulldog’s season last year, defeating them 8-3 in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference tournament to advance to the NCAA regionals. That was only BYU’s third win against Fresno State as the Bulldogs hold an 8-3 overall advantage over BYU. Fresno State is 10-8 this season. Brooke Ortiz leads with a .361 average and 22 hits, while Brenna Moss and Stesha Brazil provide power for the Bulldogs. Moss has five triples and 10 RBI, while Brazil leads with a team-high five home runs. Taylor Langdon, Jillian Compton and Hannah Harris each have part in the team’s 10 wins. Compton is 5-5 with 26 strikeouts and 59.2 innings pitched, while Langdon leads with a 2.15 ERA.

New Mexico

BYU has an overall record of 36-13 against New Mexico and is 30-5 under Eakin. The Cougars had a 13-game win streak against the Lobos before New Mexico beat them in 2011 3-2. New Mexico is another .500 team at 9-9 on the season. The Lobos lost their first seven games before rebounding to win nine of their last 11 games. The team has five pitchers who have made an appearance this season, but are led by Lauren Soles who is 4-2 with 32 strikeouts and only 13 earned runs given up in her eight appearances. Offensively, freshman outfielder Mariah Rimmer is hitting .400 with a team-high 24 hits, alongside two home runs and eight RBI. Rimmer also leads the team with 14 stolen bases to add to the team’s total of 30. Junior infielder Chelsea Anaya isn’t far behind, hitting .377 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

Long Beach State

The Cougars are 2-2 overall against Long Beach State and have won the last two meetings. The 49ers sit at 7-6 this season and are led by junior Hannah De Gaetano who is sporting a .356 batting average along with two home runs and 11 RBI on the season. Catcher Karli Sandoval and infielder Ashley Holmes also bring power to the lineup with five and three homeruns, respectively, on the season. These three batters have combined for 37 of the team’s 56 RBI. Erin Jones-Wesley has the most time on the mound for the 49ers. With eight starts, she has a 4-4 record alongside 59 strikeouts and has held opponenets to an average of .294.

Every game of the weekend will be available via live stats. Check the schedule for updated information and BYU Softball on facebook for live updates.