SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State continues its Mountain West season this weekend with a series with Utah State in Logan, Utah. The Aztecs (20-12, 5-7 MW) and the Aggies (11-21, 2-10 MW) will play a doubleheader Saturday at noon MT and a solo game Sunday at noon PT.
SDSU is coming off a series win over San José State, rebounding from a 1-0 loss on Saturday with a 1-0 victory in the nightcap, and run-ruling the Spartans, 14-3, in five innings on Sunday.
San Diego State has won six of the last seven games entering this weekend's series, outscoring the opposition, 39-10, over that stretch.
Jillian Celis and Shelby Thompson lead the Aztec offense. Celis leads SDSU in batting average (.327) and doubles (9), while adding 21 RBIs, 14 runs and three stolen bases. Thompson, meanwhile, paces San Diego State in runs (23), hits (33), RBIs (24), home runs (7), total bases (58), slugging percentage (.563) and on-base percentage (.400, tied), while batting .320 with four doubles and seven walks. Riley Thies (.286, 10 R, 7 BB, 8 SB, .400 OB%), Alexa Schultz (.278, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 15 R, 5 2B, .556 SLG%), Taylor Adams (.277, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 16 R, 15 BB, 6 SB) and Jenna Holcomb (.273, 8 R, 12 SB) are also hitting over .300 for the Aztecs (min. 32 plate appearances).
The SDSU pitching staff has combined for a 2.92 ERA with nine shutouts in its 20 wins. Maggie Balint (12-6, 1 SV, 1.94 ERA, 115.2 IP, 101 K, 33 BB, .198 opp. avg.) has five shutouts by herself and has combined on another one, while Marissa Moreno (3-3, 3.47 ERA, 46.1 IP, 22 K, 25 BB, .291 opp. avg.) also has pitched enough innings (32) to qualify for the San Diego State leaders.
USU is going through a big of a rough spell right now with eight consecutive losses prior to beating Utah Valley, 13-7, in a non-conference contest on Wednesday. Last weekend in Boise, Idaho, Utah State lost all three games (4-2, 7-1 and 4-2).
The Aggies are hitting .238 as a team, led by Zaia Castruita (.307, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R), Gabriella Jimenez (.292, 8 HR, 20 RBI, 24 R) and Lexi Orozco (.283, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 13 R). Jessica Stewart (4-6, 4.37 ERA, 65.2 IP, 43 K, 22 BB), Kapri Toone (4-10, 4.74 ERA, 93.0 IP, 47 K, 37 BB) and Delaney Hull (3-5, 5.25 ERA, 48.0 IP, 33 K, 13 BB) pace a pitching staff that has posted a 4.81 team ERA.
Against common opponents this year, San Diego State is 7-9, while USU is 2-12. The Aztecs lead the all-time series, 21-9, but lost the series (2-1) in the last meetings from May 9-11, 2019, in Logan.
Following three games with USU, SDSU welcomes New Mexico, May 1-2, at SDSU Softball Stadium.