SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State returns to America's Finest City Wednesday morning for the first time since Feb. 18 when it hosts Utah before staying in Southern California this weekend in the Louisville Slugger Invitational.
The Aztecs (9-10), who are receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, welcome the Utes (13-6) at 11 a.m. PT Wednesday in a game moved up to beat the rain, then play Grand Canyon (16-4) and Long Beach State (3-17) at 4:30 p.m. PT and 7 p.m. PT Friday in Long Beach, and North Dakota (5-17) and Cal State Fullerton (11-9) at 3 p.m. PT and 5:30 p.m. PT Saturday in Fullerton.
Out of SDSU's 19 games so far this season, 14 have come against teams that made the 2023 NCAA tournament (San Diego State is 5-9 in those games) and nine have been against nationally ranked squads (the Aztecs are 2-7).
Utah made the Women's College World Series last year, eliminating SDSU in a best-of-three series in the NCAA Super Regional, while Grand Canyon and Cal State Fullerton also made the NCAA tournament (San Diego State beat Grand Canyon in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional).
Macey Keester tops the Aztecs offense with a .33 average, while Lala Macario leads SDSU in on-base percentage (.410), runs (15), walks (9, tied) and stolen bases (11). Mac Barbara, the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, is hitting .279 with five home runs and 20 RBIs, slugging .651.
Freshman sensation Cece Cellura (2-1, 2.37 ERA, 41.1 IP) and the defending MW Pitcher of the Year and the preseason pitcher of the year Allie Light (4-5, 2.47 ERA, 45.1 IP) lead a pitching staff that has combined to record a 2.68 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 128 innings. Cellura was named the MW Freshman of the Week on Monday, while Light was selected as the MW Pitcher of the Week the previous Monday (Feb. 26).
Aztecs Host Utah; Travel to Louisville Slugger Invite
