April 26, 2005
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SDSU Softball Looks For Revenge Against Rebels
The San Diego State softball team (23-25, 1-13 MWC) play the role of spoiler this weekend as they play host second place UNLV (35-16, 11-3 MWC) at the SDSU softball stadium. The doubleheader is the start of a season-longest and season-ending six-game home stand, before the Aztecs host the 2005 Mountain West Championships.
SDSU enters the weekend following the season's final road trip where the Aztecs went 0-4 against Utah and Brigham Young. Last year, SDSU won both games with the Rebels at home by scores of 1-0 and 4-1.
Aztecs Vs. The Rebels
SDSU and UNLV have faced each other 59 times, with the Aztecs holding a 31-28 edge in the all-time series. Earlier this season, the Rebels took two from the Aztecs, winning 2-0 and 4-0 in Las Vegas. Head coach Kathy Van Wyk is 24-11 against UNLV, while Rebel coach Lonni Alameda is 2-4 against the Aztecs.
Breaking All The Records
SDSU is already surpassing the 2004 softball edition in numerous statistics, and doing it just 48 games into the season. Aztec pitchers had 251 strikeouts last season, but the 2005 bullpen, led by Celena Velasquez and Cori Janelli, already have 331. The 331 strikeouts also set a new team record, eclipsing the 266 the 2001 team tossed. Velasquez (172) and Janelli (137) have also topped their strikeout totals from last season of 101 and 85 respectively and now rank third and fifth respectively in the Aztec single-season record book. Last season Velasquez had five saves, a feat she has already matched this season, and with 10 in her career, she is just a save away from the NCAA career record books.
Freshman Megan McDonald is closing in on the 2004 team as well with four home runs, tying Kelcy Murphy's mark last season.
Burlingame Has Got Game
When SDSU recruited teammates Kristen Carranza and Allison Smith from Burlingame High School in Burlingame, Calif., the Aztecs felt that they could be everyday starters and top hitters for the team, but they did not know it would happen in their freshman year.
Smith leads the team with a .312 average, mostly at third base and second base. She is third on the team with 13 RBI, and has seven doubles, a triple, a home run and eight runs scored. Smith is third on the team in slugging (.422) and second in on base percentage (.361). She is among the Aztec leaders in MWC play with a .357 average.
Carranza is third on the Aztec team with a .301 batting average, including a .256 average in MWC play, splitting time in right field, first base and as a designated player. She is tied for the team lead with 19 RBI and 16 runs scored, and tied for the team lead with seven doubles and leads the team with three triples. She has a team-high .372 on base average and .431 slugging percentage.
The pair's 25 hits are over a third of the team's 74 in MWC play, and they have scored four of the team's 11 runs as well as driving in three of nine RBI.
Pitching Staff Among The Best In Nation
Two-time Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Celena Velasquez and senior Cori Janelli are back to lead an excellent Aztec pitching staff. Velasquez, a junior, has an 11-10 record with five saves and a 1.29 ERA. She leads the team in appearances (33), strikeouts (172), and opponent batting average (.180), in 146.1 innings of work. She currently ranks first in the MWC in earned run average, opponent batting average, strikeouts, and saves, while she is second in innings pitched and fourth in wins. Janelli has posted a 1.79 overall ERA this season, including a 9-13 record with 137 strikeouts and 34 earned runs in 133.0 innings pitched. She ranks fourth in the conference in ERA and is fourth in opposing batting average. Janelli places fifth in the league in innings pitched and third in strikeouts. Sophomore Katie Cochran is also in the mix with a 3-2 record and a 3.35 ERA. She has 22 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.
M(eagan) & M(egan)
Junior infielder Meagan Hartung and freshman designated player/infielder Megan McDonald are providing a punch for SDSU this season. Hartung led the 2004 Aztecs in batting average (.364), on base percentage (.462), runs (37), hits (64), doubles (13) and triples (two). Her outstanding season showed up in numerous places on the SDSU single-season charts, including top-five finishes in batting average (3rd), runs (t-3rd), hits (5th), doubles (4th), walks (t-1st), and on-base percentage (t-1st). She has .229 average this season, with five doubles, a home run, six RBI and a team-leading 16 runs scored.
McDonald is batting .209 with three doubles, a team-high four home runs, six runs scored and a team-high 19 RBI. She is versatile on defense as well, playing catcher and first base to go with her designated player duties.
Newcomers Delight
SDSU newcomers are producing big numbers for the Aztecs this season. With the mix of talented veterans and new players, SDSU has a chance to be really special in the future. Last week, the freshmen accounted for 17 of SDSU's 25 hits, both doubles, three of five runs and all three RBI.
Freshman Taryin Casillas posted a .364 batting average over the weekend against BYU and Utah, with 4-for-11 showing, including a run scored.
Mahoney Joins Century Club
Senior outfielder Erin Mahoney recently became one of the newest members of the 100-hit club, with a single in her final at-bat against Southern Utah March 5, to cap off a 3-for-4 afternoon. Mahoney also recently reached 35 sacrifice bunts, moving her into fifth in the all-time Aztec record books.
Other Aztecs approaching the 100-hit mark include senior Danielle Touhey (86 hits) and junior Meagan Hartung (96 hits).
Aztecs Tough At Home
Last season the Aztecs were 22-9 at home, including two-game sweeps of No. 21 Oklahoma State and Mississippi State, plus conference opponents Colorado State, New Mexico, and UNLV. SDSU was also 7-3 in San Diego during MWC play. The last two seasons combined, the Aztecs were 46-15, a .754 winning percentage, the most home wins by any team in the MWC.
So far this season the Aztecs are 11-7 at home allowing only 45 runs in 18 games (31 of which came in five contests), while SDSU is averaging 4, including 27 extra base hits. Over the past three seasons the Aztecs are 57-23 at home, a .713 winning percentage.
Van Wyk Is Winningest Coach In SDSU History
Kathy Van Wyk is the winningest coach in SDSU history with a 294-232-1 record. She broke Linda Spradley's (1984-94) win total of 253 on March 21, 2004, when the Aztecs topped Buffalo, 6-0. The two served as co-head coaches from 1995-96 and compiled a 48-69 mark. Under Van Wyk's leadership, SDSU has advanced to its only two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2001 and 2003. The 2001 squad went 3-2 and advanced to the regional championship against host UCLA, while the 2003 team was 1-2 in tourney action.
