SAN DIEGO– Wrapping up their weekend series off campus, the San Diego softball team (14-16, 0-0 WCC) picked up the sweep over Montana (5-21, 0-0 Big Sky) on Sunday afternoon at Del Norte High School with a pair of impressive victories.
The Toreros got the day started with a 4-0 victory over the Grizzlies, and then sent the home crowd home happy with a first pitch walk off home run from Taylor Johnson in the bottom of the seventh to give USD the 5-4 win and their third victory in a row.
San Diego's pitching combined to allow just four runs across the three days at Del Norte, while the offense and defense was spectacular throughout the weekend to pick up a trio of wins.
HOW IT HAPPENED: SAN DIEGO 4, MONTANA 0
- Making her return to the circle, McKenna Braegelmann struck out the first hitter she faced and put up a scoreless top of the first for her team.
- Getting to work in the bottom half of the inning, Hailey Mulligan began her day by working a lead off walk and then came around to score on an RBI single from Taylor Johnson that gave the Toreros an early 1-0 lead.
- Both pitchers were on their games early with each starter tossing scoreless second and third innings as USD held onto their one run advantage.
- After allowing a pair of runners to reach with two away in the fourth, San Diego made a change in the circle as Kelsey Tadlock took over and induced a ground out to keep the Torero lead at 1-0.
- USD's offense got to work in the bottom of the fifth as Michelle Delgado was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Johnson delivered a double to put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs in the frame.
- Shawnese Hogue-Lacy then delivered a perfectly placed bunt single that scored Delgado to make it 2-0. Alyssa Hernandez would follow with a sacrifice fly that plated Johnson to push the lead up to three runs. Rounding out the frame, Del Norte alum Emma Giaime drove a base hit back up the middle to score Hogue-Lacy as the Toreros now enjoyed a 4-0 lead.
- Tadlock cruised through both the sixth and seventh as she retired all six hitters she faced to help San Diego take the second game of the series with another shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED: SAN DIEGO 5, MONTANA 4
- Giaimie got the start for San Diego in game two on Sunday as she responded by setting down the first three Montana hitters she faced in order.
- In the Torero half of the first, Kaitlyn Wynia and Michelle Delgado delivered one out singles, and Arisa Tovar walked with two away in the inning but were left on base to keep the game scoreless.
- After Giamie put up another scoreless inning, the Toreros received a one out base hit from Mikalyn Emanuelli who then stole a base but was left in scoring position to keep the game even at zero.
- USD's defense delivered in the top of the third after the Grizzlies loaded the bases as Tele Jennings made a terrific sliding catch and doubled off the runner at third base to keep Montana off the score board.
- The Toreros took that momentum and got to work offensively as Wynia led off the third with a single and came around to score on an RBI single from Delgado to make it 1-0 USD. Johnson then delivered her first home run of the afternoon with a two-run shot over the left field wall as San Diego enjoyed a three run lead through the first portion of the game.
- Montana scored their first run of the weekend in the top of the fourth to make it a 3-1 USD lead.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Sophia Pinedo came off the San Diego bench and delivered a one out double to left center but was left on base to keep the Torero lead at two.
- The Grizzlies continued to chip away in the fifth as they scored once again on an RBI double to make it a 3-2 game.
- USD was able to come through with a two out rally in the bottom of the fifth as Hernandez grounded a base hit up the middle and came around to score on EJ Joyner's RBI double to left to put the Toreros back ahead by two runs.
- Montana would continue their comeback attempt in the sixth as they scored twice to tie the game at four and then put up a zero in the bottom half to go into the final inning all tied up.
- Tadlock went back out for the seventh and kept the Grizzlies' offense at bay to set up her offense with a chance to walk it off.
- Johnson needed just one pitch to send the hometown crowd happy as she hammered a ball over the center field wall to give USD the sweep and a third consecutive win.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Braegelmann had a fantastic start in game one as she threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and recording a pair of strikeouts.
- Johnson had another stellar afternoon at the plate as she went 4-for-6 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and a pair of runs scored against Montana.
- Giaime did it all on both sides of the ball as she went 1-for-3 with an RBI in game one, and then turned around and tossed four innings while allowing just one earned run against the Grizzlies.
- Wynia was a force at the plate on Sunday as she went 4-for-6 across both games with a walk and a run scored.
- Tadlock secured the victory in both games of the doubleheader as she threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one earned run and struck out eight hitters in relief.
POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
NEXT UP
San Diego will be back in action this Wednesday against their crosstown rival San Diego State (17-10, 2-1 MWC) on March 19 at 6:00 p.m. from the SDSU Softball Stadium. Live video and live statistics links can be found via the team's website.
