FULLERTON, Calif. -- Jillian Celis hit a one-out grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to lift the San Diego State softball team a 5-3 victory at Cal State Fullerton and doubleheader split Tuesday night at Anderson Family Field. It was the second grand slam in the top of the seventh for the Aztecs (10-4) in five days (four days since).
Trailing, 3-1, after six innings and with just three hits off Titan (13-11) pitcher Savannah Serrata and following a 7-2 loss, SDSU got things going in the seventh when Taylor Adams reached on an error, moved to second on a Sara Lillie groundout and to third on a Nicole Siess single. Siess moved to second on the throw and Makena Brocki followed with a 10-pitch walk. Celis quickly fouled two pitches off before taking three straight balls. She then took the 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall for her first career home run.
San Diego State starting pitcher Maggie Balint retired CSF in order with two strikeouts to secure the Aztecs' 10th victory of the season.
SDSU scored first in the third when Siess tripled and scored on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by Brocki.
Cal State Fullerton took the lead in the bottom of the third on a home run by Kelsie Whitmore and a two-run single by Hannah Becerra.
San Diego State only got into scoring position one other time in the game when in the fourth Alexa Schultz walked and advanced to third on consecutive groundouts, one of two walks draw in the game by Schultz.
Celis and Siess added two hits apiece.
Balint (5-2) picked up the win with another complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out five.
In the opener, the Titans broke open a close game with five runs in the bottom of the fifth in a 7-2 win.
Celis scored on an error in the fifth and Danielle Romanello homered for the first time as an Aztec for SDSU's two runs. Romanello also walked for San Diego State, while Shelby Thompson singled and was hit by a pitch.
Karina Faasisila took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits and two walks over three innings, striking out one. The left-hander is now 2-1 on the season. Hannah Johnson pitched the final four innings, yielding five runs on seven hits, while recording a pair of strikeouts.
THE NOTE
The Jillian Celis grand slam was the first home run of her career and came in her 115th plate appearance, 103rd at-bat and 42nd game (all starts).
THE NOTE II
The Aztecs are 10-4 for the second straight season, matching their best start since 2008 (11-3).
STAT OF THE DAY
SDSU lost 23 straight games when trailing after six innings prior to Friday. SDSU is 2-1 since.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs welcome Saint Mary's for a weekend home series, including a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. PT Saturday and a single game at 11 a.m. PT Sunday.
Game 2: Cal State Fullerton 7, San Diego State 2
San Diego State 000 011 0 -- 2 4 0
Cal State Fullerton 010 150 x -- 7 11 4
Faasisila, Johnson (4) and Romanello; Frost and Valenzuela
W - Frost, 5-3; L - Faasisila, 2-1
HR: San Diego State, Romanello (1); Cal State Fullerton, Becerra (4), Valenzuela (3), Munoz (3)
Game 2: San Diego State 5, Cal State Fullerton 3
San Diego State (10-4) 001 000 4 -- 5 5 0
Cal State Fullerton (13-11) 003 000 0 -- 3 7 1
Balint and Romanello; Serrata, Martinez (7) and Valenzuela
W - Balint, 5-2; L - Serrata, 4-5
HR: San Diego State, Celis (1); Cal State Fullerton, Whitmore (3)
Celis Grand Slam Lifts Softball to Split at CSF
