CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- The San Diego State softball team lost a pair of games Saturday at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California. The Aztecs (10-5) were first edged by Ohio State, 5-4, before falling to No. 8/10 Washington, 5-0, in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Buckeyes (6-5) rallied from a 4-0 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to beat SDSU, 5-4.
San Diego State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Cali Decker beat out an infield single and Bella Espinoza scored on a OSU throwing error.
In the second, Espinoza reached on another Ohio State throwing error and followed Alley Dueker home to make it 3-0 Aztecs.
SDSU also scored a run in third when Macey Keester's single through the left side plated Decker.
San Diego State, however, couldn't get any more insurance runs, leaving 10 runners on base for the game. It was the third straight game that the Aztecs left at least 10 runners on base.
After allowing just one hit through the first four innings, SDSU gave up four in the fifth, which led to three Buckeye runs. Melina Wilkison first singled in Tegan Cortelletti before Jaycee Ruberti's double knocked in two more runners. San Diego State's Allie Light relieved Dee Dee Hernandez with no outs and was able to get out of the inning with no more damage, striking out the final two batters she faced swinging to keep it a 4-3 game.
OSU quickly got two runners on in the sixth as McKenzie Bump doubled and Mariah Rodriguez followed with a single. Light (1-3) was able to get Taylor Heckman to ground into a fielder's choice that got Bump out in a run down between third and home plate, but Kaitlyn Farley singled up the middle to score both runners and give Ohio State it's first and only lead of the game.
Dueker drew a two-out walk in the seventh for the Aztecs, but Jade Ignacio struck out swinging to end the game.
Espinoza had three hits, two runs and two stolen bases for SDSU, while Alex Bunton had a single and a walk, Dueker drew three walks and Jeweliana Perez had a pair of walks in the loss.
Light took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits over two innings, striking out two. Dani Martinez started in the circle and pitched two scoreless innings with one hit and one walk allowed. Hernandez pitched the middle two innings, yielding three runs on four hits, striking out three.
In the nightcap, San Diego State was unable to get anything going against Husky (13-3) pitcher Ruby Meylan in a 5-0 loss.
Playing in its only game of the night, UW got a solo home run by Madison Husky in the top of the first inning and four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a bases loaded double by Baylee Klingler.
Washington avenged a 7-5 loss to the Aztecs last year at the same Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic when the Huskies were ranked fifth in both national polls.
Sarah Lehman took the loss for SDSU, allowing three runs on two hits an four walks in three innings, while striking out four. She dropped to 4-1 on the season. Light gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in two innings of relief, striking out one. Cassidy West pitched the final three innings and yielded two hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Mac Barbara had two of San Diego State's four hits, including a double, while Makena Brocki and Keester also singled. San Diego State struck out a season-high 11 times in the game.
THE NOTE
Against Ohio State, SDSU had its eight-game winning streak snapped when scoring first.
THE NOTE II
With tonight's two losses, San Diego State has its first losing streak of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY
The Aztecs had won 30 consecutive games when leading after five innings until falling to Ohio State early today.
UP NEXT
SDSU returns home to play host to the San Diego Classic this weekend. San Diego State hosts Long Beach State (2 p.m. PT) and San Diego (4:30 p.m. PT) on Friday, and Boston Univ. at 4 p.m. PT Saturday before meeting Montana (10 a.m. PT) and Boston Univ. (12:30 p.m. PT) at USD on Sunday.
Game 1: Ohio State 5, San Diego State 4
San Diego State 121 000 0 -- 4 7 1
Ohio State (6-5) 000 032 x -- 5 8 2
Martinez, Hernandez (3), Light (5) and Barbara, Decker (3), Barbara (6); Smith, Paulsen (4) and Bryan, Church (4), Hackenbracht (7)
W - Paulsen, 1-0; L - Light, 1-3
Game 2: No. 8/10 Washington 5, San Diego State 0
Washington (13-3) 100 400 0 -- 5 6 0
San Diego State (10-5) 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1
Meylan and Johnson; Lehman, Light (4), West (5) and Ignacio
W - Meylan, 6-0; L - Lehman, 4-1
HR: Washington, Huskey (6)
SDSU Swept at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
