LAS VEGAS -- The San Diego State softball team used a three-hit shutout from pitching ace Maggie Balint and a pair of RBI singles by Mac Barbara to down UNLV, 2-0, in the Friday night series opener at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas. The Aztecs (26-10) improved to 10-0 in MW play with their 12th consecutive victory, while the Rebels dropped to 27-8 and 5-2.
Balint (13-4) struck out 10 for her 10th double-digit strikeout game in her 18th start of the season. The right-hander allowed three hits, three walks and hit a batter, but stranded eight UNLV runners in the game. The Rebels came into the weekend leading the league with a .333 batting average.
SDSU struck first in the top of the third inning when Nicole Siess drew a four-pitch walk, moved all the way to third on a bunt single by Bella Espinoza and scored on a single to right field by Barbara. Espinoza, however, was thrown out at third on the play. Jillian Celis followed with a single, but UNLV pitcher Jenny Bressler got Alexa Schultz to pop out to Rebel catcher Julia Vollmer and Danielle Romanello to ground out back to her in the circle to keep the damage to a minimum.
San Diego State's other run came in the seventh as Espinoza reached on a throwing error and moved to second on the play before Barbara ripped a single to left field for the score.
UNLV had plenty of chances in the game but Balint kept getting out of jam after jam.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Rebels loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batter, but Balint struck out Sofia Morales swinging with two outs to get out of the inning.
In the third, Maddie Schmidt led off with a single and stole second. Balint, however, struck out Mia Trejo (swinging), Denise Armendariz (looking) and Ariana Martinez (swinging) in succession.
In the fourth, Samantha Diaz hit a one-out double before Balint got Lauryn Barker to pop up to Celis at second base and pinch hitter Alyssa Trejo to fly out to Schultz in left field.
In the fifth, April Visser led off with a walk and stole second. She got to third on a groundout and Mia Trejo was intentionally walked and replaced by Janyssa Martin, who quickly stole second. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Balint got Armendariz to pop to Celis before striking out Martinez swinging.
Balint then retired the Rebels in order the next two innings, making it eight consecutive outs to close the game. In all, the Rebels were 0-for-12 against Balint with runners on base and 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Barbara had three of the Aztecs' eight hits in the game, while Celis added a pair of singles and was robbed of a home run at the fence in the fifth. Barbara has 45 RBIs on the season in 36 games.
THE NOTE
SDSU has won 12 consecutive games, the fifth-longest winning streak in program history and longest since winning a school-record 13 straight games from March 12-April 6, 2013. That stretch was one of four times San Diego State has won 13 straight games.
THE NOTE II
The Aztecs are 10-0 in Mountain West play for the first time since starting 13-0 in 2006. The 10-0 start is SDSU's second-best start in league history.
STAT OF THE DAY
DP Mac Barbara has reached base safely in 30 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the country and third-longest overall streak this season.
UP NEXT
Game No. 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. PT Saturday.
San Diego State 2, UNLV 0
San Diego State (26-10, 10-0 MW) 001 000 1 -- 2 8 1
UNLV (27-8, 5-2 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
Balint and Romanello; Bressler and Vollmer
W - Balint, 13-4; L - Bressler, 15-5
Softball Shuts Out UNLV, 2-0, for 12th Straight Win
