SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State softball team had an opportunity for a big win on Friday night against the No. 12/13 Arizona Wildcats at SDSU Softball Stadium. Starting pitchers Cece Cellura and Devyn Netz were both stellar and the game was in a scoreless tie through six innings. Netz helped her own cause with a solo home run down the left field line in the seventh and the Aztecs were unable to respond, falling 1-0.
San Diego State (29-16) starting pitcher Cellura began the game with a strikeout of Dakota Kennedy and struck out Kaiah Altmeyer while shutting out Arizona (40-9) in the first inning.
Cellura allowed a one-out single in the second inning before sitting down the next 11 hitters and not allowing another baserunner until the sixth inning.
Angie Yellen singled up the middle in the third inning for the Aztecs’ first hit while Julie Holcomb legged out an infield single to begin the fourth inning, but neither was able to move into scoring position.
In the sixth inning, Arizona’s pinch-hitter Paige Dimler doubled down the right field line. On a hit-and-run, Kennedy lined to Quinn Waiki at shortstop, who tossed the ball to Jazmin Williams at second base for a double play. Regan Shockey reached on an infield single and was initially tagged out trying to get to second base on the play but replay overturned the call at second. However, Cellura induced an inning-ending groundout. In the bottom of the frame, Holcomb reached on an infield single again, this time with two outs, and moved to second on a wild pitch but could go no further before the inning came to an end.
Arizona’s pitcher Netz led off the seventh and hit a high fly ball deep down the left field line. The ball was curving towards foul territory but stayed fair just long enough for a solo homer to provide the first run of the game. Cellura responded by retiring the next three hitters. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Jade Ignacio reached on an error by second baseman Kiki Escobar to bring the winning run to the plate with one out and the Aztecs’ two home run leaders, Shannon Cunningham and Grace Uribe, to the plate but Netz was able to work out of the jam to end the game with a 1-0 final score.
THE NOTE
Cece Cellura pitched the third complete game of her career, all three of which have come in 1-0 defeats this season (against Utah on March 1 and at Nevada on March 27).
UP NEXT
SDSU and Arizona wrap up this brief series at noon on Saturday in a game that will be broadcast on Mountain West Network. Saturday is Pride Day for the Aztecs, and the first 250 fans will receive a free pride t-shirt.
No. 12/13 Arizona 1, San Diego State 0
Arizona (40-9) 000 000 1 – 1 5 1
San Diego State (29-16) 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
W – Netz, 19-5; L – Cellura, 12-7
HR: Netz, UA (17)