BOISE, Idaho -- The San Diego State softball was unable to overcome an early 6-0 deficit in a 9-6 loss to Boise State in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Dona Larsen Park in Boise, Idaho.
The Aztecs (32-13, 16-6 MW), who won each of the first two games of the series, are now tied with the Broncos (29-14, 14-4 MW) atop the Mountain West standings, but SDSU's conference season is complete and BS plays three games at Fresno State next weekend. San Diego State can only win the regular season title with two Boise State losses in Fresno. Both the Aztecs and Broncos have already clinched the top-2 seeds in the Mountain West Tournament, set for May 11-13 at SDSU Softball Stadium. The winner of the MW Tournament receives the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
BS jumped out to a 6-0 lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning and five in the second.
San Diego State, however, bounced back in the third, loading the bases before Makena Brocki cleared them with a two-out double
Alexis Otero homered in the fourth to bring the Aztecs within two runs. It was the first home run of the season for Otero.
Boise State answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, the first coming on a SDSU error and the second on a sacrifice fly as both were unearned against San Diego State reliever Allie Light.
The Broncos added to their lead in the fifth with a solo home run by Ashlyn Whalen.
The Aztecs cut into Boise State's lead once again in the sixth when Macey Keester's two-out double scored Otero. Keester then scored on a Bronco fielding error with Bella Espinoza at the plate.
SDSU, however, went down in order in the seventh and the Broncos salvaged a win in the series.
Keester and Otero each had two hits, two runs and an RBI to lead San Diego State, which was outhit (9-7) in the series for the first time. Mac Barbara added a single and two walks, while Jillian Celis drew a pair of walks.
Dee Dee Hernandez took the loss for the Aztecs, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings, while striking out one. The left-hander fell to 7-3 on the season. Sarah Lehman got one out, giving up a solo home run and three walks, while Allie Light yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings of relief, striking out two.
THE NOTE
SDSU, which came into the weekend averaging 0.45 home runs per game, had six homers in the weekend series at Boise State, including one apiece by Mac Barbara, Jillian Celis, Macey Keester, AJ Murphy, Alexis Otero and Jeweliana Perez.
THE NOTE II
San Diego State fell to 9-9 on the season when its opponent scores first.
STAT OF THE DAY
The Aztecs lost for the first time this season when scoring at least six runs, falling to 16-1. SDSU had won 17 consecutive games when scoring at least six runs dating back to last year.
UP NEXT
San Diego State plays a pair of non-conference games at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, first taking on LMU at 3:30 p.m. PT and following with No. 2/2 UCLA at 6 p.m. PT.
Boise State 9, San Diego State 6
San Diego State (32-13, 16-6 MW) 003 102 0 -- 6 7 1
Boise State (29-14, 14-4 MW) 150 210 x -- 9 9 2
Hernandez, Lehman (2), Light (2) and Decker; Caudill, Walljasper (3) and S. Hutchingson
W - Walljasper, 13-4; L - Hernandez, 7-3
HR: San Diego State, Otero (1); Boise State, E. Flores (11), Hanna (9), Whalen (3)
Aztecs Fall at Boise State, 9-6, in Series Finale
