BATON ROUGE, La. -- The San Diego State softball team lost a pair of 3-1 games on the second day of the Purple & Gold Challenge Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In the opener, the Aztecs (8-10), who are receiving votes in both major national polls, spotted the Bulldogs (11-3) three runs in the top of the fourth inning with consecutive one-out RBI singles and later an RBI groundout.
SDSU finally got on the scoreboard with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as a pinch-hit single by Jade Ignacio knocked in Ally Dueker. LT pitcher Allie Floyd, however, got Macey Keester to fly out to end the games and pick up the save.
Cali Decker, Alyssa Garcia and Angie Yellen also had hits for San Diego State, which was outhit, 9-4, in the game.
Light (4-5) took the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits over three innings, striking out three without issuing a walk. Dee Dee Hernandez pitched a scoreless four innings of relief, with just one hit allowed and no walks, striking out three.
In the nightcap, the Aztecs, who lost to the Tigers (16-0), 9-1, in six innings the night before, tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run by Mac Barbara, her fifth of the season.
LSU, however, answered in the bottom of the sixth. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out before Light retired a runner at home on a fielder's choice. Kelley Lynch, however, came through with a single through the left side to score two runs and preserve the 3-1 LSU victory.
Barbara homered and walked for SDSU, while Yellen also got on base twice with walks. San Diego State was outhit, 7-3, in the game.
Light figured in the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Cece Cellura started the game and gave up just one run on four hits and no walks over five innings, striking out two.
THE NOTE
Out of the 10 Aztec losses this season, seven have been by two or less runs and eight by three or less.
THE NOTE II
Out of SDSU's 18 games this year, 14 have come against teams that made the 2023 NCAA tournament.
STAT OF THE DAY
Mac Barbara has four home runs in three career games against LSU.
UP NEXT
San Diego State looks to stop a five-game losing streak Sunday with a game against Illinois at 10 a.m. CT (8 a.m. PT).
Game 1: Louisiana Tech 3, San Diego State 1
Louisiana Tech (11-3) 000 300 0 -- 3 9 1
San Diego State 000 000 0 -- 1 4 0
Menzina, Melnychuk (3), Floyd (6) and Glover; Light, Hernandez (4) and Decker
W - Melnychuk, 5-3; L - Light, 4-4; SV: Floyd, 4
Game 2: No. 4/5 LSU 3, San Diego State
San Diego State (8-10) 000 001 0 -- 1 3 1
LSU (16-0) 000 102 x -- 3 7 9
Cellura, Light (6) and Garcia, Decker (6); Chaffin, Berzon (7) and Carson, Bergeron (7)
W - Chaffin, 6-0; L - Light, 4-5; SV: Berzon, 2
HR: San Diego State, Barbara (5)
Aztecs Lose a Pair of 3-1 Games in Louisiana
