Back To School Tour
Aztecs Battle But Team NPF Comes Out With A Win
The Aztecs committed six errors in the contest and were outhit by a 14-9 margin. The NPF All-Stars, who are made up of some of the top players from the National Pro Fastpitch league, went 41-1 last year in the Back to School Tour.
SDSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning on a two-run homer by junior Hayley Miles (Antelope, Calif.). After the NPF All-Stars tied the game up in the top of the third, San Diego State answered with three runs in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run home run by senior Kamerin May (Corona, Calif.).
The NPF All-Stars, however, took advantage of numerous Aztec errors and timely hits to score the next 13 runs in the game.
SDSU got the final two runs of the contest in the bottom of the seventh, including an RBI single by senior Kristin May (Corona, Calif.) before its mini-rally was thwarted.
Sophomore Kayla Jordan (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base to pace the San Diego State offense and junior Dominique Dinner (Monterey, Calif.) added two hits.
Miles had a two-run homer, two runs and a stolen base, while the May twins combined to go 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
Freshmen Leia Ruiz (triple, run) and Monica Downey (San Diego/Madison HS) each added a hit for the Aztecs.
Redshirt senior Rebecca Arbino (Clovis, Calif.) took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) in six hits and two walks over four innings against the tough-hitting NPF offense. She struck out three.
Junior Lorena Bauer (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief without allowing an earned run (two unearned runs), while striking out three against three hits and three walks. Freshman Danielle O’Toole (Upland, Calif.) scattered seven runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk over 1/3 innings. She struck out one.
Ashley Charters led the All-Stars at the plate by going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIS, while Kelsey Bruder (2-for-4, R, RBI), Andrea Duran (2-for-5, 2 R, RBI), Angeline Quiocho (2-for-4, R, RBI) and Nikia Williams (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI) each had two hits apiece.
NPF pitcher Kristina Thorson was touched up for five runs (four earned) on six hits over four innings, but still got the win. Jamee Juarez pitched the final three frames and yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits, while striking out six.
SDSU begins its 54-game spring schedule, which includes 18 contests against 2012 NCAA tournament tames, from Feb. 7-9 at Arizona State’s Kajikawa Classic. Two of San Diego State’s five games at the classic will be against 2012 NCAA tournament squads, including Northwestern (Feb. 8) and WCWS qualifier Arizona (Feb. 9). The Aztecs also play Creighton (Feb. 7), Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 8) and Western Michigan (Feb. 9).
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), headquartered in Osceola County, Florida, USSSA is the World’s Largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!