SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State blew past Memphis, 7-1, on the third day of the SDSU Season Kickoff Saturday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
The Aztecs (3-1) scored a season-high seven runs on 11 hits on offense, while the pitching combo of Sarah Lehman and Cassidy West allowed just three hits and one walk to the Tigers (0-4). Additionally, the SDSU defense didn't commit an error for the third consecutive game.
San Diego State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as AJ Murphy led off with as single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and later scored on a Cali Decker single to right field. Decker eventually scored on a Macey Keester single to center field.
Memphis halved the Aztec advantage in the top of the third as Taylor Smrt doubled down the right-field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and later scored in a single by Sam Ibison.
SDSU extended its lead with three runs in the fourth. Taylor Okada came through with a one-out single to score pinch runner Ally Dueker, before Bella Espinoza followed with a two-run single to plate Keester and Okada.
San Diego State tacked on its final two runs in the sixth. The Aztecs loaded the bases with Espinoza (single), Jillian Celis (single) and Murphy (walk) on the basepaths with one out. With Alexis Otero at the plate, Espinoza raced home and scored on a wild pitch. Otero then singled through the left side to knock in Celis.
West then tossed a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts to secure the SDSU victory.
Murphy reached base safely all four plate appearances to lead the San Diego State offense with two singles, two walks, a run and a stolen base. Decker was 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored, while Espinoza had two hits, two RBIs, a run and two stolen bases. Celis added two hits and a run, while Keester was 1-for-1 with a walk, RBI and run.
The offense was plenty for the 1-2 punch of Lehman (1-0) and West. Lehman earned the start and allowed one run on two hits and a walk over five innings, while striking out four to pick up her first win as an Aztec. West, meanwhile, tossed two scoreless innings of relief with a pair of strikeouts, giving up just one hit.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs have allowed just one run over the last 16 2/3 innings.
THE NOTE II
SDSU won its 10th straight game decided by five or more runs.
STAT OF THE DAY
San Diego State won its 24th consecutive game when leading after five innings.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs wrap up the SDSU Season Kickoff with a game against Northern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. PT.
(rv/rv) San Diego State 7, Memphis 1
Memphis (0-4) 001 000 0 -- 1 3 0
San Diego State (3-1) 020 302 x -- 7 11 0
Siems, Dugar (5), Thomas (6) and Ponder; Lehman, West (6) and Decker, Barbara (6)
W - Lehman,1-0; L - Siems, 0-2
Other Saturday Games at the SDSU Season Kickoff
No. 22/rv Arizona State 10, Memphis 0 (5 innings)
(rv/rv) Notre Dame 5, CSUN 4 (8 innings)
(rv/rv) Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois, 5:30 p.m. PT
CSUN vs. Northern Illinois, 8 p.m. PT
SDSU Blows Past Memphis, 7-1
