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Aztecs edged by Oregon 6-4 before beating Utah Valley 6-1
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 18, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State split a doubleheader on the second day of the 32nd annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Saturday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (8-2) had their six-game winning streak snapped in a 6-4 loss to No. 24/24 Oregon in the opener, before rebounding for a 6-1 victory over Utah Valley in the nightcap.
In the opener, San Diego State’s late rally came up short in a 6-4 loss to the Ducks (7-2). The Aztecs trailed, 3-0, after five innings and, 6-2, heading into the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t come across with the tying run.
UO scored its first run in the top of the fourth inning when Kedre Luschar’s single scored Allee Bunker.
In the fifth, Bunker’s one-out single knocked in Kyle Morris and Paige Sinicki.
After leaving a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings, SDSU finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth, scoring twice with two outs. Taylor Okada kept the inning alive with a single before Jade Ignacio tripled off the left-center field wall. Macey Keester followed with a single before Raegan Breedlove relieved starting Oregon pitcher Stevie Hansen and struck out Makena Brocki looking.
The Ducks answered with three runs in the seventh on four hits and two San Diego State errors. The RBI singles in the inning went to Terra McGowan and KK Humphreys as two of the three runs were earned.
San Diego State, however, would not go quietly, as Mac Barbara drilled two-run homer with one out over the left-center field fence. AJ Murphy and Cali Decker followed with singles, but Morgan Scott, who replaced Breedlove after Murphy’s single, got Okada to ground into a double play to third baseman Teyha Bird to end the game.
UO edged the Aztecs in total hits, 12-11, but only left five runners on base compared to SDSU’s eight. Decker, Keester and Okada had two hits apiece for San Diego State.
Allie Light took the loss despite allowing just one unearned run on five hits over four innings, while striking out two. Light dropped to 1-2 on the season. Dee Dee Hernandez scattered four runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings, striking out two, while Sara Lehman gave up one unearned run on two hits in 0 2/3 innings.
In the nightcap, the Aztecs backed up a stellar pitching outing by Lehman, and Dani Martinez and Light with plenty of offense in an 6-1 victory over the Wolverines (3-6).
Playing as the visiting team in the second game, Bella Espinoza led off the game with a single and Barbara followed with a double to left-center field for SDSU’s first run of the game.
San Diego State tacked on three more runs in the third as Barbara’s fielder’s choice scored Espinoza and then Jillian Celis homered over the left-center field wall. It was her second of the season.
The Aztecs loaded the bases in the fifth with one out on a Barbara walk, Celis single and Jade Ignacio walk. After Alex Bunton struck out swinging, Keester blooped a single to right field to score Barbara. SDSU, however, couldn’t get another run across as Trinity Brandon flied out to center field.
UVU got its lone run in the sixth with a leadoff home run by Rylee Thorpe.
San Diego State added an insurance run in the seventh when Bunton’s sacrifice fly plated Elianna Reyes.
Celis was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run to pace the Aztec offense, while Espinoza (2 R) and Keester added two hits apiece. Barbara (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Ignacio also reached twice with a hit and a walk.
The SDSU trio of Lehman, Martinez (3-0) and Light were more than enough to silence Utah Valley’s bats. Lehman got the start and allowed one hit and three walks over three scoreless innings, striking out four. Martinez picked up the win after yielding one run on three hits and a walk over 2 1/3 innings, striking out three. Light tossed 1 2/3 perfect innings with three strikeouts to record her third save of the season.
THE NOTE
San Diego State is 8-2 through 10 games for a second straight season. Last year the Aztecs finished 39-16 for the second-best record in program history.
THE NOTE II
RHP Allie Light already has three saves on the season in SDSU’s eight victories, while LHP Dee Dee Hernandez has two. Light is tied for 10th in San Diego State single-season history. Four former Aztecs share the single-year record of six saves, including Maggie Balint (2022), Samantha Beasley (2009), Celena Velasquez (2005) and Bre DeSanta (2002).
STAT OF THE DAY
1B/C Mac Barbara homered in the first game against No. 24/24 Oregon, giving her 20 for her career at SDSU in just 65 games. She’s the seventh San Diego State player in program history with at least 20 home runs, joining Lorena Bauer (60 from 2011-13, 2015), Patrice Jackson (46 from 2010, 2012-14), Haley Miles (37 from 2011-12, 2014-15), Jenavee Peres (34 from 2015-17), Shelby Thompson (29 from 2017-21) and Molly Sturdivant (23 from 2016-19).
UP NEXT
The Aztecs head to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California next weekend for games against Cal State Fullerton (2:30 p.m.) and No. 17/16 Kentucky (5:30 p.m.) on Thursday, Brigham Young at 8 p.m. on Friday and Ohio State (3 p.m.) and No 12/14 Washington (8 p.m.) on Saturday.
Game 1: No. 24/24 Oregon 6, San Diego State 4
Oregon (7-2) 000 120 3 -- 6 12 1
San Diego State 000 002 2 -- 4 11 3
Hansen, Breedlove (6), Scott (7) and McGowan; Light, Hernandez (5), Lehman (7) and Decker
W - Hansen, 3-2; L - Light, 1-2; SV - Scott, 1
HR: San Diego State, Barbara (2)
Game 2: San Diego State 6, Utah Valley 1
San Diego State (8-2) 103 010 1 -- 6 10 1
Utah Valley (3-6) 000 001 0 -- 1 4 0
Lehman, Martinez (4), Light (6) and Barbara; Zuniga, Saili (5) and Barajas
W - Martinez, 3-0; L - Zuniga, 1-4; SV - Light, 3
HR: San Diego State, Celis (2); Utah Valley, Thorpe (1)
Other Saturday Scores
UC Riverside 3, Utah Valley 2
No. 24/24 Oregon 9, LMU 4
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