ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- San Diego State rallied from a 5-0 deficit with eight runs in the top of the sixth inning and four more in the seventh en route to a 12-8 come-from-behind victory at New Mexico to clinch a doubleheader sweep Wednesday at Lobo Softball Field. The Aztecs (22-13, 9-2 MW), who have won seven consecutive games, doubled up the Lobos (10-32, 2-9 MW), 4-2, in the opener.
Stacey Nuveman Deniz became the fastest head coach in SDSU history to reach 100 wins. The third-year coach is now 100-46 (.685).
In the nightcap, San Diego State was trailing, 5-0, through five innings, but broke out in a big way in the sixth with eight runs on six hits, including two home runs by Mac Barbara, and a pair of walks. Barbara got the Aztecs on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer over the center-field wall. Katie Goldberg later scored two on a single before getting to third on a sacrifice bunt by Makena Brocki and a passed ball. With two outs, Bella Espinoza and Macey Keester each walked to load the bases, and Lala Macario reached on an infield single to knock in Goldberg. Down, 5-4, Barbara drilled a pitch over the center-field wall for the grand slam. It was Barbara's second homer of the inning, ninth this season and 40th of her career.
After Cece Cellura retired UNM in order in the bottom of the sixth, Goldberg and Murphy each added two-run home runs in the seventh to extend SDSU's advantage to 12-5.
New Mexico scored three more times in the seventh (one unearned), but it wasn't enough as San Diego State completed the doubleheader sweep.
Barbara was 2-for-3 with two home runs, five RBIs, two runs and a walk to lead the Aztecs, while Goldberg was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs. Three others - Jade Ignacio (2-for-2, 2 R, 2B), Brocki (2-for-3, R, 2 2B) and Cali Decker (2-for-4) added two hits apiece for SDSU. Murphy (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB) and Keester (R, BB, HBP) also each reached base safely for San Diego State.
Dee Dee Hernandez picked up the win after allowing three unearned runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. The left-hander is now 7-2 on the year. Cassidy West started the game and gave up two runs on four hits and no walks over 2 1/3 innings, striking out two. Cellura picked up her second save of the season, yielding three runs (two earned) on three hits in two innings, while striking out three.
In the opener, The Aztecs came back from a 2-1 deficit by scoring the final three runs of the game in a 4-2 victory.
Alyssa Garcia gave SDSU an early lead in the top of the first inning when her single scored Barbara.
The Lobos answered in the fifth on an RBI single and a San Diego State error.
In the sixth, Goldberg led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Brocki sac bunt. Murphy tied it with a double to right-center field. Later in the inning, Angie Yellen's two-out pinch-hit double knocked in Murphy with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run.
Cellura (6-2) retired UNM in the sixth before a double by Goldberg plated Ally Dueker in the seventh.
Cellura then finished the game by getting New Mexico out with three straight flyouts.
Garcia had two hits to pace the Aztecs, while Barbara and Goldberg each drew two walks and added a hit apiece.
Cellura picked up the win, surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks over three innings of relief, striking out three. Allie Light started the game and tossed four scoreless innings, giving up four hits and no walks, while striking out one Lobo.
THE NOTE I
Mac Barbara's five multi-home run games are tied with Patrice Jackson (2010, 2012-14) for the second most in SDSU program history, only trailing Lorena Bauer's six (2011-13, 2015).
THE NOTE II
San Diego State's four home runs in the nightcap were its most since homering four times vs. No. 22/20 LSU on May 20, 2022 and tied for the seventh-most homers in a game in program history.
STAT OF THE DAY
Mac Barbara homered twice in the top of the sixth inning in the nightcap. It is believed to be the first time in program history that an Aztec has homered twice in an inning.
UP NEXT
SDSU, which won the 2022 Mountain West regular-season title and last year captured the first MW tournament championship held since 2006, plays host to defending MW regular-season champion Boise State at 4 p.m. PT Saturday and noon PT Sunday.
Game 1: San Diego State 4, New Mexico 2
San Diego State 100 002 1 -- 4 8 1
New Mexico 000 020 0 -- 2 7 1
Light, Cellura (5) and Decker; Guest, Snow (7) and Yeatts
W - Cellura, 6-2; L - Guest, 8-17
Game 2: San Diego State 12, New Mexico 8
San Diego State (22-13, 9-2 MW) 000 008 4 -- 12 12 3
New Mexico (10-32, 2-9 MW) 101 120 3 -- 8 13 0
West, Hernandez (3), Cellura (6) and Garcia, Decker (6); Umali, Snow (6), Guest (6), Brouse (7), Jones (7) and Yeatts
W - Hernandez, 7-2; L - Guest, 8-18
HR: San Diego State, Barbara 2 (9), Goldberg (2), Murphy (2)
Aztecs Sweep Doubleheader at New Mexico
