SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State softball team returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against No. 5/6 Washington at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (5-1) and Huskies (9-1) are scheduled to play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 4 p.m. PT, and a single game at 1 p.m. PT Saturday.
After matching its best start to a season in program history at 5-0, SDSU fell at top-ranked UCLA Wednesday by a 14-0 score. San Diego State did not have a baserunner in the game as Bruin (6-0) pitcher Megan Faraimo recorded her first career perfect game. Prior to Wednesday's setback, the Aztecs swept a doubleheader at San Diego (8-0 and 1-0) on Feb. 17, and swept a home series over UC Davis (10-4, 3-1 and 7-0) last weekend.
SDSU is hitting .273 as a team and is led offensively so far by Taylor Adams (.500, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6 R), Shelby Thompson (.400, 2 RBI, 3 R), Danielle Romanello (.313, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 2B) and Jillian Celis (.313, 4 RBI, R). Alexa Schultz (.267) leads the team with two home runs and five RBIs, while Jessica Cordola (3-for-7, 2 RBI, R) is batting .429 and .400 in limited at-bats.
The San Diego State pitching staff, meanwhile, has combined for a 3.41 ERA with three shutouts, recording 31 strikeouts. Karina Faasisila (2-0, 2.62 ERA, 10.2 IP, 9 K, 3 BB, .237 opp. avg.) is coming off being named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, while Maggie Balint (2-1, 4.02 ERA, 15.2 IP, 14 K, 7 BB) has two complete games in three starts. Hannah Johnson (1-0, 4.34 ERA, 6 K) has yet to allow a walk in 9 2/3 innings across two starts, and Marissa Moreno (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 K, 1 BB) made her debut Sunday and pitched three innings in a 7-0 Aztec win over UC Davis.
UW, meanwhile, is 9-1 on the season with four run-rule victories, outscoring the opposition, 93-30. Sis Bates (.485, 10 RBI, 16 R), SilentRain Espinoza (.478, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R), Jadelyn Allchin (.409, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 8 R) and Kelley Lynch (.400, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R) are all hitting at least .400 (min. 20 AB) for Washington, which is hitting .389 as a team. Gabbie Plain (4-0, 0.64 ERA, 59 K, 5 BB, .148 avg.) leads the pitching staff for the Huskies, who have posted a 3.39 team ERA. Lynch has also pitched well this season, going 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 19 innings.
SDSU is 1-17 all-time UW with its lone victory coming in extra innings on March 20, 2008.
Following the weekend series San Diego State plays a doubleheader at California Baptist next Friday (March 5), beginning at 4 p.m. PT, before hosting CBU in a single game at 1 p.m. PT Saturday.