SDSU SOFTBALL DOWNS NEW MEXICO 5-2 ON SENIOR DAY FOR SERIES SWEEP

SDSU completes sweep over Lobos and moves to 30-12 on the season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 23, 2023 (San Diego) -  San Diego State rallied for a 5-2 victory over New Mexico to complete a series sweep Sunday afternoon on Senior Day at SDSU Softball Stadium. It was the 30th win of the season for the Aztecs (30-12, 14-5 MW), who captured their 10th consecutive home game.

SDSU trailed the Lobos (17-28, 4-13 MW), 2-0, through four innings on an Ashley Archuleta RBI triple in the top of the first inning and a solo homer in the third, but tied it in the bottom of the fifth. Makena Brocki led off with a triple and scored on an AJ Murphy single. Elianna Reyes replaced Murphy at first, got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Okada and scored on a single to left field by Alexis Otero.

After a 1-2-3 inning by San Diego State relief pitcher Dee Dee Hernandez in the top of the sixth, the Aztecs took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with three runs. SDSU’s first run of the inning came when a Brocki single scored Jillian Celis from second base. Later in the inning, a groundout by Jeweliana Perez scored Ally Dueker and, after a throwing error by UNM, Brocki on the same play.

Allie Light came into pitch for San Diego State in the seventh and ran into a bit of trouble as New Mexico loaded the bases on a Maddie Boldt single, an Aztec throwing error and a fielder’s choice. Light, however, got Archuleta to line into a double play to Celis at shortstop, who threw it to Perez at first base for the force out. Light then struck out Lobo cleanup hitter Emma Bramson to end the game.

Brocki was 3-for-3 with a home run short of the cycle, two runs and an RBI to lead SDSU, which outhit UNM, 8-6. Otero and Murphy each added RBI singles and a walk.

Dani Martinez started for San Diego State in the circle and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over three innings, while striking out two. Hernandez (6-2) picked up the win after tossing three scoreless innings with two hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Light gave up a leadoff single in the seventh and had one strikeout to pick up her sixth save of the season.

Following the game, there was a ceremony honoring six departing Aztec seniors, including Karina Faasisila, Sarah Lehman, Martinez, Okada, Otero and Alyssa Pinto.

THE NOTE

SDSU improved to 21-4 at home this season. The .840 winning percentage is its best in program history (San Diego State plays host to the Mountain West Championship from May 11-13).

THE NOTE II

The Aztecs won their 10th consecutive home game, which is tied for the seventh-longest active streak in the country (as of 4 p.m. PT Sunday).

STAT OF THE DAY

RHP Allie Light picked up her sixth save of the season, which is tied with four others - Maggie Balint (2022), Samantha Beasley (2009), Celena Velasquez (2005) and Bre DeSanta (2002) - for the most in SDSU single-season history.

UP NEXT

Second-place San Diego State travels to conference-leading Boise State for a weekend series in Boise, Idaho, with games set for 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT on Friday, 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT on Saturday and noon MT/11 a.m. PT on Sunday.

San Diego State 5, New Mexico 2

New Mexico (17-28, 4-13 MW)             101 000 0 -- 2 6 1

San Diego State (30-12, 14-5 MW)       000 023 x -- 5 8 1

Snow, Linton (6) and Romero; Martinez, Hernandez (4), Light (6) and Decker

W - Hernandez, 6-2; L - Snow, 4-11; SV - Light, 6

HR: New Mexico, Archuleta (2)

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