San Diego State Softball Downs CSUN, 8-2

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State softball team used a 12-hit day from its offense and a 10-strikeout gem from ace Maggie Balint in an 8-2 victory over CSUN on the third day of the Torero Classic Saturday at USD Softball Complex. The Aztecs (15-10) avenged a 6-4 loss to the Matadors (10-14) on Feb. 17 when CSUN scored five times in the top of the seventh to steal the win.
 
SDSU scored once in the top of the first inning, four times in the second, two in the third and once in the sixth, while Balint (8-4) struck out 10 batters for the complete game win.
 
In the first, AJ Murphy was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded, which scored Jillian Celis. Makena Brocki, however, struck out looking to end the inning.
 
A Mac Barbara bases-loaded single in the second scored Shaylan Whatman and Bella Espinoza. After Jessica Cordola was hit by a pitch, Alexa Schultz doubled to center field to make it a 5-0 game. Allie Gardner, however, replaced Kenedee Jamerson in the circle and got Murphy and Brocki to fly out to center field.
 
In the third, Espinoza plated Adams with a single to left field and Barbara's sacrifice fly later scored Celis.  
 
Nicole Siess scored on a single by Murphy in the sixth for San Diego State's eighth run of the game.
 
CSUN kept the game going in the bottom of the sixth when they scored two runs on a throwing error by the Aztecs.
 
Celis was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs and a walk to pace SDSU, while Espinoza had three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Schultz added two hits, two RBIs and a walk, Barbara had three RBIs and a walk, and Whatman scored a run on two walks.
 
Balint allowed just two runs (both unearned) on five hits over seven innings, while striking out 10. The right-hander now has 130 strikeouts against 14 walks on the season in 77 innings.
 
THE NOTE
RHP Maggie Balint recorded her seventh double-digit strikeout game of the season in 12 starts.
 
THE NOTE II
In three games this weekend at the Torero Classic, the San Diego State pitching staff has allowed just one earned run, going 2-1 with a 0.33 ERA in 21 innings, striking out 28 with just two walks allowed, while limiting the opposition to a .152 average.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
2B Jillian Celis recorded the first four-hit game by an Aztec since Taylor Adams had four at Nevada on March 20, 2021.
 
UP NEXT
SDSU wraps up its play in the Torero Classic at 12:30 p.m. PT Sunday at San Diego.
 
San Diego State 8, CSUN 2
San Diego State (15-10)        142 001 0 -- 8 12 1
CSUN (10-14)                         000 002 0 -- 2 5 0
Balint and Barbara; Jamerson, Gardiner (2) and Kaeka
W - Balint, 8-4; L - Jamerson, 2-7