Softball

Aztecs Sweep Doubleheader at San Jose State

SDSU 14, SJSU 1 (5 inn.) Opens in a new window SDSU 2, SJSU 1 Opens in a new window
Aztecs Sweep Doubleheader at San Jose StateAztecs Sweep Doubleheader at San Jose State

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Diego State swept a doubleheader over San Jose State Friday afternoon at Spartan Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (25-14, 12-3 MW) run-ruled the Spartans (13-22, 3-9 MW), 14-1, in five innings in the opener before rallying for a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.
 
In the opener, SDSU banged out a season-high 18 hits en route to a 14-1, five-inning victory. San Diego State, which tied a season high with 14 runs, scored two runs in the top of the first inning, three in the second, six in the fourth and three in the fifth.
 
Three different Aztecs went 3-for-3 in the opener, including Lala Macario (3 R, BB, SB), Katie Goldberg (3 RBI, 2 R) and Alyssa Garcia. Julie Holcomb was 2-for-2 with two RBIs off the bench, while Cali Decker (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) and Makena Brocki (2-for-3, 2 RBI, R, SF) also added two hits apiece.
 
The offense was plenty for the 1-2 pitching punch of Allie Light and Cassidy West. Light (10-7) pitched three innings, giving up one run on five hits and no walks, while striking out one. West, meanwhile, tossed two scoreless innings of relief, yielding one hit and no walks, striking out three.
 
In the nightcap, Alyssa Garcia broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out single on a 3-2 pitch in the top of the seventh inning, scoring Mac Barbara from second base, to give SDSU a 2-1 victory. Barbara reached on a SJSU fielding error, moved to second base on a Decker sacrifice bunt and scored when Garcia took the seventh pitch of the at-bat into center field for the go-ahead RBI.
 
Dee Dee Hernandez then entered the circle for San Diego State in the bottom of the seventh and retired San Jose State in order, including a strikeout looking to Carly Cummings to end the game.
 
The Spartans scored in the bottom of the first when Reina Zermeno's triple plated Ahmiya Noriega, who reached on a one-out single. SJSU would only record one hit the rest of the game off Aztec pitchers Cece Cellura and Hernandez.
 
SDSU tied it in the third as AJ Murphy's single knocked in Goldberg.
 
San Diego State left the bases loaded in the second and the third innings, respectively, and 10 overall in the game until Garcia's clutch single in the seventh.
 
Murphy had two hits to pace the Aztec offense, while Goldberg singled and drew a walk.
 
Cellura (7-3) picked up the win for SDSU, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over six innings, while striking out four. As mentioned, Hernandez pitched a perfect seventh for her second save of the season and 11th of her career.
 
THE NOTE I
In the nightcap, San Diego State improved to 8-4 on the season in one-run games.
 
THE NOTE II
LHP Dee Dee Hernandez picked up her 11th career save in the nightcap, which is tied with Samantha Beasley (2007-10) for third all-time in Aztec history and just one behind the school record, held by Alec Formby (2016-18) and Celena Velasquez (2003-06).
 
STAT OF THE DAY
In the opener, SDSU won its 73rd consecutive game when scoring at least 10 runs.
 
UP NEXT
San Diego State looks for the series sweep over San Jose State, which will conclude at noon PT Sunday.
 
Game 1: San Diego State 14, San Jose State 1 (5 innings)
San Diego State                                   230 63 -- 14 18 0
San Jose State                                     010 00 -- 1 6 3
Light, West (4) and Decker; Reynolds, Toner (2), Conti (4) and Almaguer
W - Light, 10-7; L - Reynolds, 3-11
 
Game 2: San Diego State 2, San Jose State 1
San Diego State (25-14, 12-3 MW)      001 000 1 -- 2 6 1
San Jose State (13-22, 3-9 MW)          100 000 0 -- 1 3 3
Cellura, Hernandez (7) and Garcia; Ham and Almaguer
W - Cellura, 7-1; L - Ham, 4-4; SV - Hernandez, 2