SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State kicks off the Mountain West portion of the 2022 schedule this weekend with a home series against Colorado State at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (16-10) and Rams (8-13) will play a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 2 p.m. PT, before concluding the series with a solo game at 11 a.m. PT Sunday.
SDSU is coming off a 3-1 record last weekend at the Torero Classic, picking up wins over Weber State (9-1 in six innings), CSUN (8-2) and host USD (4-3).
San Diego State has four players batting over .300, including three within percentage points of the team lead. Mac Barbara tops the Aztecs in average (.388), home runs (10), RBIs (32), doubles (7, tied), walks (11) and on-base percentage (.454, tied), while Bella Espinoza is hitting .385 with 18 runs and a team-high seven stolen bases. Jillian Celis is batting .384 with 16 RBIs, six doubles and team-highs in runs (19), triples (4) and on-base percentage (.454, tied). Makena Brocki (.310, 10 RBIS) is also over .300 for SDSU, which is hitting .304 as a team.
The San Diego State pitching staff, meanwhile, has played particularly well, posting a 2.26 team ERA with four shutouts, while limiting the opposition to a .226 average. Maggie Balint is 8-4 with a 1.71 ERA and a save, striking out 130 against 14 walks, while limiting her opponents to a .180 average. Balint has been named the MW Pitcher of the Week four times in five tries so far this season. Dee Dee Hernandez is 3-3 with a 1.59 ERA and three saves in 44 innings, while recording 34 strikeouts to six walks. Allie Light (2-1, 3.19 ERA, 1 SV, 26.1 IP, 28 K, 6 BB) and Dani Martinez (3-2, 4.45 ERA, 28.1 IP, 19 K, 4 BB) have also pitched valuable innings for the Aztecs.
CSU is hitting .298, led by Hailey Smith (.353, 1 HR, 19 RBI), Ashley Michelena (.351, 11 R, 6 SB), Ashley York (.338, 1 HR, 21 RBI, 19 R) and Brooke Bohlender (.325, 7 RBI). Sydney Hornbuckle leads the Colorado State pitching staff with a 1.99 ERA in 38 2/3 innings, going 1-5. Julia Cabral (2-3, 4.14 ERA, 47.1 IP), Danielle Serna (2-3, 4.16 ERA, 33.2 IP) and Jetta Nannen (3-2, 2.41 ERA, 20.1 IP) have also logged innings for the Rams, who have posted a 3.30 team ERA.
Against common opponents this season, SDSU is 4-1, while CSU is 0-4.
Following the three games with Colorado State, San Diego State travels to Fresno State next weekend (March 25-27).