CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Katie Byrd scored pinch runner Janina Jusay with a RBI single that turned out to be the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning late Saturday evening as San Diego State held off Bethune-Cookman, 3-2 in extra innings as part of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. In the loss, the Wildcats conclude the annual California event at 0-5 against some of the nation's best teams.
 
With the first pitch of the eighth inning, San Diego State leadoff hitter Byrd delivered the game-winning RBI single down the line in left that allowed pinch runner Jusay to score on the play.
 
San Diego State (6-9) held a 3-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth inning and international rules in play, allowing a runner to be placed on second base to start each team at-bat.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-10) challenged in the bottom of the frame when Mariah Davis reached on a fielding error charged to the Aztecs, allowing Bryanna Campos to advance to third and place runners on the corners for the Cats with nobody out. After the speedy Davis stole second on the ensuing play, it would be a pop up and a double play that would end the threat as BCU held the bases loaded prior to the double play ball.
 
It would be the Wildcats who took the lead first as Davis' single to right center allowed pinch runner Sasha Killings to score from second. That gave BCU the early 1-0 lead after three innings in the books.
 
The Aztecs answered in the top of the next frame, using an error charged to BCU's Kayla Traylor at shortstop to score Kiera Wright all the way from second. That knotted the game at 1-all.
 
The Maroon and Gold stepped back in front in the bottom of the fourth.
 
An RBI groundout from San Marcos, California native Brianna Sanders was enough to score Ryan Jackson from third. Jackson, a sophomore from Chino Hills, California, reached in her at-bat courtesy an error charged to San Diego State's Byrd at second base.
 
With Bethune-Cookman on top, 2-1, it was the Aztecs answering to tie the game for the second inning in a row in the top-half of the fifth.
 
The third error of the game for the Wildcats proved costly as it allowed Aris Metcalfe to score on the errant throw by BCU catcher Kailey Richard.
 
The game stood 2-2 with BCU having the best opportunity score before extra innings when the Cats left two runners on.
 
The win went to the Aztecs' reliever Alex Formby (3-5) as she worked 4.2 innings out of the bullpen. She did not allow a run on just one hit, a walk and picked up four strikeouts. The loss was registered to Alexis Bermudez (1-2) as the freshman from Santa Fe Springs, California went the distance in the circle for the Wildcats, allowing three unearned runs on four hits, three walks and five strikeouts.
 
BCU was limited to just three hits in the game, as Davis, Richard and Yvonne Siordia all collected the honors.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns to action Friday, March 2, when the Wildcats travel to nearby DeLand, Florida for the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson. BCU will meet Cornell in its opening game on Friday, followed by Tennessee State in the nightcap.
 
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