SAN DIEGO -- Fresh off a 2-1 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night, the San Diego State softball team makes the short drive north to Orange County to compete in the Louisville Slugger Invitational this weekend.
The Aztecs (14-7), who are receiving votes in the latest USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, are scheduled to play at Long Beach State at 5:30 p.m. PT Thursday, before heading to Cal State Fullerton for games against South Dakota (11:30 a.m. PT) and Weber State (2 p.m. PT) on Friday, and Columbia at 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday.
The Aztecs are hitting .307 as a team and are led by Bella Espinoza and Jillian Celis, each with a .397 average. Espinoza also paces SDSU in runs (18), hits (29) and stolen bases, going 11-for-11 on the season. Celis, meanwhile, has a team-high 15 RBIs and a team-best .525 slugging percentage, while ranking second in runs (12) and on-base percentage (.447). Macey Keester (9 R, 10 RBI, 6 SB) and Cali Decker (1 HR, 8 RBI. .455 OB%) are each hitting .340, while Mac Barbara's (.288) three home runs lead the team.
Four Aztecs have logged at least 25 innings in the circle and have combined for five shutouts and nine saves in their 14 wins. Sarah Lehman (6-1, 1.57 ERA, 35.2 IP, 1 SV), Allie Light (2-4, 2.15 ERA, 5 SV, 39.0 IP), Dani Martinez (3-2, 2.18 ERA, 25.2 IP) and Dee Dee Hernandez (2-0, 2.62 ERA, 3 SV, 32.0 IP) have done the bulk of the pitching for SDSU, which has a 2.19 ERA as a team.
San Diego State beat Long Beach State (7-13), 5-0, last weekend (March 3), but trails the all-time series, 53-31. The Aztecs are 3-0 all-time against South Dakota (8-0) and 4-3 vs. Weber State (5-14), and are meeting Columbia (2-7) for the first time.
Following the Louisville Slugger Classic, SDSU opens Mountain West play at Colorado State from March 17-19.