SAN DIEGO – Winners of ten of their last 11 games, the No. 23 San Diego State softball team had an opportunity to keep rolling in a midweek home game against California Baptist at SDSU Softball Stadium on Tuesday night. The game was close and low scoring until the Aztecs rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and closed out the Lancers in the seventh to earn a 6-2 victory
In the first inning, California Baptist (7-10) struck first. Matti Severns reached on a fielding error. Kate Penberthy drove her in with a double to left center field. Aztec starter Cece Cellura escaped the possibility of more damage by striking out Sydney Soto to end the frame. Cali Decker launched a solo home run deep over the wall in right field to even the score at one through an inning.
The Aztecs (13-3) added on in the second. Lala Macario laced a single to right field with one out. She advanced to second on a Grace Uribe single. Quinn Waiki kept things going with a ball back up the middle, but Macario had to jump to avoid the ball while running to third base and landed awkwardly and was unable to get up. She was tagged for the second out and was unable to return to the game. Angie Yellen walked to load the bases before Bella Espinoza did the same, scoring Uribe from third. A groundout ended the inning.
Decker led off with a single in the third. Mia Rodriguez ran for her and moved up to second on a wild pitch ahead of a Shannon Cunningham walk. Julie Holcomb bunted the runners over and Uribe was hit by a pitch to load the bases once more. However, SDSU was unable to capitalize as the inning ended on a popup.
Jazmin Williams appeared to have a home run to left field with two outs in the fourth inning, but she had to settle for a triple as the ball bounced off the top of the wall. The Aztecs could not bring her in.
Severns singled with two outs in the fifth inning and came around to score when Penberthy tripled to right center field. Cece Cellura was able to prevent Penberthy from scoring and finished her night allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out three over five innings.
CBU’s leadoff hitter reached on an error in the sixth but Dee Dee Hernandez retired the next three batters in order to end the inning. Waiki singled with one out in the bottom of the inning. Yellen and Espinoza walked to load the bases for Williams. She singled off the shortstop, allowing Waiki and Yellen to score. Espinoza and Williams moved into scoring position on a Cali Decker flyout. Shannon Cunningham provided a pair of insurance runs with a bases-clearing double to left field, giving the Aztecs a 6-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Hernandez retired the side in order in the seventh and needed just 14 pitches to work through two innings without any hits or walks allowed.
THE NOTE
Cali Decker’s home run was her first in the regular season since March 16, 2024, when she homered against Utah State. Her home run on Tuesday night was just the second of her career prior to the start of conference play. In 14 career postseason games, Decker has four home runs compared to five in 102 career regular season games.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs head to Fullerton, California, this weekend for the Judi Garman Classic. SDSU will play Weber State at noon and Notre Dame at 2:30 on Friday before a Saturday night game against Utah at 5 p.m. The weekend wraps up against No. 12/10 Arizona at 9:30 a.m. and host Cal State Fullerton at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday.
No. 23/23 San Diego State 6, California Baptist 2
California Baptist (7-10) 100 010 0 – 2 6 0
San Diego State (13-3) 110 004 X – 6 8 3
W – Hernandez, 4-1; L – McConnell, 1-6
HR: Decker, SDSU (1)