SAN DIEGO – A two-out single by freshman Jillian Celis in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Alexa Schultz to lift San Diego State to a 3-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton Friday night at the 30th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic at SDSU Softball Stadium. The win gave the Aztecs (6-3) a sweep on the day after earlier topping Southern Utah, 5-4.
The Titans (5-2), who were coming off an 8-3 victory over Brigham Young, drew first blood in extra innings when Alexa Neil's two-out single in the top of the eighth scored Irie Siofele. Pinch runner Taylor Tropp also attempted to score from second base but Schultz' laser throw from left field to catcher Sadie Langlet easily got Tropp at the plate.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, SDSU's Taylor Adams was placed at second base. Kelsey Munoz moved Adams over a base on a grounder before Schultz doubled to left field to tie the game at 2-2. Summer Hargett then moved Schultz to third on a groundout. Celis battled a 1-2 count to 3-2 before singling through the left side to plate Schultz with the walk-off RBI.
CSF took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Siofele led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and one batter later scored on Megan Delgadillo's bloop single to left field.
In the sixth, Munoz got things going with a one-out double before moving to third on a flyout by Schultz. After a four-pitch walk to Hargett, Celis took a 2-2 pitch to right-center field to plate Munoz with the tying run.
San Diego State looked to end the game in the seventh as Riley Thies reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a Kiera Wright sacrifice bunt and to third on a Shelby Thompson groundout. Trish Parks, however, who just replaced Sophie Frost in the circle to face Thompson, got Adams to ground back to her to force extra innings before the Aztecs eventually came out on top.
Celis, Schultz and Thies each had two hits apiece for SDSU, which outhit Cal State Fullerton, 9-5, in the game.
Maggie Balint continued her stellar start in the circle for San Diego State. The Oregon transfer pitched all eight innings in the circle for the Aztecs, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven.
Earlier in the day, Balint (1-2) struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh to pick up her second save of the season in a 5-4 SDSU win over Southern Utah.
San Diego State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the game with two runs in the bottom of the first and three in the third.
In the first, Shelby Thompson led off with a single and later scored on a fielding error by Thunderbird (1-6) third baseman Brooke Brown. Jessica Cordola's sacrifice fly also scored Munoz.
A Langlet two-run single in the third scored Munoz and Cordola to make it 4-0, and later scored on a throwing error to complete the scoring for the Aztecs.
SUU responded with four runs in the fourth on three hits, the only hits it had in the game. Southern Utah only reached base safely twice the rest of the way on a SDSU fielding error and a walk.
Celis, Munoz and Wright each tallied two hits for San Diego State, which outhit the Thunderbirds, 10-3.
Marissa Moreno picked up the win for the Aztecs after yielding four runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk over four innings, while striking out four. Hannah Johnson pitched the middle two innings with two strikeouts, no hits and a walk allowed, before Balint struck out the side in the seventh for the save.
THE NOTE
San Diego State now trails the all-time series with Brigham Young, 29-25.
STAT OF THE DAY
RHP Maggie Balint pitched nine innings on the day, allowing five hits (.172 average), while striking out 10 and walking just one.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs wrap up the 30th annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Saturday with games against Brigham Young (4:30 p.m. PT) and Southern Utah (7 p.m. PT).
Game 1: San Diego State 5, Southern Utah 4
Southern Utah (1-6) 000 400 0 -- 4 3 3
San Diego State 203 000 x -- 5 10 2
Coddington, Grover (3) and Hickstein; Moreno, Johnson (5), Balint (7) and Langlet
W - Moreno, 2-0; L - Coddington, 1-2; SV: Balint, 2
HR: Southern Utah, Whetten (1)
Game 2: San Diego State 3, Cal State Fullerton 2 (8 innings)
Cal State Fullerton (5-2) 000 010 01 -- 2 5 0
San Diego State (6-3) 000 001 02 -- 3 9 0
Frost, Parks (7) and Valenzuela; Balint and Umi, Langlet (7)
W - Balint, 1-2; L - Parks, 0-2
Other Friday Scores
Brigham Young 11, Southern Utah 2
Cal State Fullerton 8, Brigham Young 3
Aztecs Walk Off Against CSF for Friday Sweep
