San Diego State Softball Heads to Loaded Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
Off to its best 11-game start since 2014 and tied for the second best in program history, the San Diego State softball team hits the road for the first time this season when it competes in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in the Palm Springs Area this weekend.
The Aztecs (9-2), who won their third consecutive Campbell/Cartier Classic and record sixth overall last weekend at SDSU Softball Stadium, play Cal State Fullerton (5:30 p.m. PT) and UC Davis (8 p.m. PT) on Thursday, No. 18/15 Northwestern (3 p.m. PT) and No. 5/5 Washington (6 p.m. PT) on Friday, and No. 16/19 Missouri at 9:30 a.m. PT Saturday.
SDSU is receiving three votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and will face three teams in the top 20. San Diego State's five opponents this weekend have combined for a 36-11 (.766) record.
San Diego State has been impressive in all three phases of the game, owning a .308 average, 1.46 ERA and .980 fielding percentage. The Aztecs have outscored the opposition, 29-3, over their four-game winning streak.
Mac Barbara leads the SDSU offense in batting average (.400), hits (14) and home runs (4), while Jillian Celis (.375, 9 RBI),and Bella Espinoza (.355, 9 R, 6-6 SB) are also hitting over .350.
Maggie Balint (4-1, 1.35 ERA, .150 opp. avg.) ranks fourth in the country in strikeouts (57) and strikeouts per seven innings (12.9), and is coming off her second straight Mountain West Pitcher-of-the-Week accolade. Allie Light (2-0, 0.54 ERA, 1 SV) and Dee Dee Hernandez (1-0, 0.98 ERA, 2 SV) each have ERAs below 1.00, while Dani Martinez (2-1, 4.10 ERA) has held her opponents to a .180 average.
All five of San Diego State's games will be broadcast on FloSoftball and can be purchased via pay-per-view.
Softball Heads to Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
