The San Diego State softball team celebrates their victory at Easton Stadium.
The San Diego State softball team triumphed over Arizona State in a nail-biting NCAA Tournament match, winning 3-2. Key home runs in the seventh inning turned the game in SDSU’s favor. With this victory, SDSU moves on to face UCLA next, adding to their remarkable tournament history. Defensive plays and strong pitching contributed significantly to the win, showcasing the competitiveness of collegiate softball.
Los Angeles – The San Diego State (SDSU) softball team produced a thrilling opening match in the NCAA Tournament by defeating Arizona State (ASU) 3-2 on Friday night at Easton Stadium, located on the campus of UCLA. This victory allows SDSU to advance to face UCLA in the next round on Saturday at 2 p.m. PT, with the game set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
The turning point in the game came in the seventh inning, where SDSU scored two crucial home runs. After both teams demonstrated strong defensive plays early in the game, SDSU took a 1-0 lead when seniors Bella Espinoza and Cali Decker combined efforts to generate their first run in the top of the first inning. However, ASU quickly responded, tying the game in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice bunt followed by a sacrifice fly.
Arizona State then gained a narrow lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, moving ahead 2-1 after a strategic offensive play. Facing a potential loss with only three outs remaining, SDSU turned the momentum dramatically. Graduate student Grace Uribe hit a game-tying home run that lifted the spirits of the team and fans alike.
In rapid succession, Gabriella Terrones followed with another solo home run, propelling SDSU ahead with a score of 3-2. This sequence not only showcased the resilience of the SDSU hitters but also underscored Terrones’ impressive performance in recent games, as she has now recorded three home runs and seven RBIs over the last ten outings, boasting a .2314 OPS.
Defensively, SDSU’s pitcher Cece Cellura played a pivotal role in securing the win, finishing the game strong. Although Arizona State’s Kenzie Brown had managed a solid performance until the seventh inning with one groundout, the two home runs sealed the fate of the game in favor of the Aztecs. In ASU’s final attempt to rally, Kelsey Hall led off the bottom of the seventh with a single but was thrown out attempting to reach second base by Espinoza. Subsequently, Cellura struck out Nehanda Lewis, finalizing the victory for SDSU despite a double allowed by Ayden Allen, which highlighted the tight contest throughout the evening.
With this victory, SDSU has now improved to a historical record of 14-12 in NCAA Tournament games played at UCLA’s Easton Stadium. The Aztecs’ current season record stands at 38-17 following their recent success, while ASU’s record, now at 35-20, marks a disappointing result in their tournament debut.
This matchup underscores the competitive nature of collegiate softball, particularly within the NCAA framework, where teams from across the nation vie for championship glory. SDSU’s ability to come back from a deficit in the final inning demonstrates both their skill and determination to advance further in the tournament.
The upcoming game against UCLA is anticipated to be another thrilling encounter, as SDSU looks to build on their momentum and continue their pursuit in the NCAA Tournament.
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