AZTEC SOFTBALL FALLS TO OKLAHOMA

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 24, 2024 (Cathedral City, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team dropped a 7-0 decision to three-time defending NCAA champion and top-ranked Oklahoma in its final game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Saturday in Cathedral City, California. The Aztecs (8-6) finished 3-1 for the tournament with wins over previously unbeaten No. 11/13 Missouri and Nebraska.

The Sooners (12-0) scored twice in the bottom of the second inning, two in the fifth and three in the sixth. Tiare Jennings led the way by going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, four RBIs and two runs. 

Bella Espinoza had two of SDSU’s three hits in the game and went 5-for-12 (.417) for the weekend with three runs. Jade Ignacio had San Diego State’s other hit.

The Aztecs threatened in the first when Espinoza reached on a one-out single and Alyssa Garcia was hit by a pitch. OU pitcher Kierston Deal, however, got Angie Yellen to fly out to left field and Makena Brocki to strike out swinging to get out of the jam.

In the seventh, Brocki reached on a one-out error and Ignacio followed with a single through the left side. Deal (2-0) induced flyouts to both Katie Goldberg and AJ Murphy to seal the win.

Allie Light took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings, starting the game and coming back to pitch in the sixth. Light dropped to 4-2 on the season. Cece Cellura gave up one run on four hits and no walks over 2 2/3 innings of relief, while Dee Dee Hernandez yielded one run on two hits and a walk over 1 2/3 innings, recording SDSU’s only two strikeouts.

THE NOTE

This was San Diego State’s 11th game of the season out of 14 against a team that made the 2023 NCAA tournament. The Aztecs are 5-6 in those games.

THE NOTE II

SDSU had its first loss of the season while playing as the visiting team, dropping to 4-1.

STAT OF THE DAY

The seven-run loss was San Diego State’s largest loss of the season. The previous largest loss was a 3-0 decision to No. 3/3 Stanford in the opener on Feb. 8 and SDSU’s previous five losses this year were by a combined nine runs.

UP NEXT

SDSU continues its tough non-conference slate next weekend when it travels to the Purple & Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. San Diego State will play McNeese State (1:30 p.m. CT) and host No. 6/7 LSU (6:30 p.m. CT) on Friday, Louisiana Tech (2:30 p.m. CT) and No. 6/7 LSU (5 p.m. CT) on Saturday, and Illinois at 10 a.m. CT Sunday.

No. 1/1 Oklahoma 7, San Diego State 0

San Diego State (8-6)           000 000 0 -- 0 3 2

Oklahoma (12-0)                 020 023 x -- 7 12 1

Light, Cellura (2), Hernandez (5), Light (6) and Garcia; Deal and Hansen

W - Deal, 2-0; L - Light, 4-2

HR: Oklahoma, Jennings (5)