News Summary
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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Additional Resources
- Go Aztecs: Aztecs Face Arizona State Tonight
- Wikipedia: NCAA Softball Tournament
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Softball Beats SDSU
- Google Search: NCAA Softball Tournament 2025
- ESPN: SDSU vs ASU Game Summary
- Google Scholar: NCAA Softball 2025
- East Village Times: SDSU Faces ASU
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA Softball
- UCLA Bruins: Bruins Handle Aztecs
- Google News: NCAA Softball 2025
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SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
