TEMPE, Ariz. -- The San Diego State softball team spotted host No. 8/5 Arizona State eight runs in the top of the first inning and couldn't quite come back in an 11-8 loss in game three of the NCAA Tempe Regional Saturday afternoon at Farrington Stadium. With the loss, the Aztecs (38-15) will play the winner of No. 22/20 LSU and Cal State Fullerton in an elimination game later tonight, while the Pac-12 champion Sun Devils (41-9) advance to the regional final at 3 p.m. PT Sunday.
San Diego State's elimination game is expected to start around 8 p.m. PT as the LSU-CSF game started an hour late at 5:30 p.m. PT.
ASU scored its eight runs in the first on seven hits, including four on two-strike counts, a walk and a hit batter.
SDSU came roaring back in the bottom of the first, quickly loading the bases on singles by Bella Espinoza, Taylor Adams and AJ Murphy. With one out, Jillian Celis ripped a single through the right side to score Espinoza. Alexa Schultz then cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line. Schultz later scored on a fielding error with Makena Brocki up at the plate to bring San Diego State to within three runs at 8-5.
After San Diego State relief pitcher Dee Dee Hernandez struck out the side following a leadoff single in the second, the Aztecs continued their hot hitting as Espinoza singled and Adams followed with a one-out single. Murphy then hit a hard-hit ball over the third base bag to score Espinoza. The Murphy single chased Arizona State starting pitcher Lindsay Lopez out of the game as Marissa Schuld replaced her in the circle. Celis singled to left field to load the bases, but Schuld (10-2) struck out Schultz looking and got Danielle Romanello to ground out to second base to get out of the jam.
Hernandez quickly got two outs in the third, including a strikeout, but Alynah Torres and Yannira Acuna each singled and, following a walk to slugger Cydney Sanders to load the bases, Jazmine Hill blooped a single to right field to score a pair of runners and extend the Sun Devil lead to 10-6.
The Aztecs were unfazed, getting those two runs back in the bottom of the third. Mac Barbara first ripped a single off the ASU first baseman to plate Brocki. A fielder's choice grounder by Adams then knocked in Espinoza from third.
Arizona State looked to extend its lead in the fifth as Bella Loomis led off with a double and Torres followed with a single. Acuna singled in Loomis and Sanders was walked to load the bases with SDSU reliever Allie Light yet to get an out. Light, however, got Hill to ground to Brocki at third base for a fielder's choice to the plate, Emily Cazares to ground to Murphy at shortstop where runner's interference was called and finally Mailey McLemore to strike out looking to get out of the jam with just one run allowed.
San Diego State mounted one last charge in the seventh after Celis walked and Schultz grounded into a double play. Pinch hitter Jessica Cordola was hit by a pitch and Brocki followed with a single. Schuld, however, got Nicole Siess to fly out to left field to end the game.
Espinoza led the Aztecs with three hits. Adams, Brocki, Celis and Murphy each added two hits apiece for SDSU, which was outhit, 15-13, in the game.
Maggie Balint took the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and a walk over 1/3 innings. Hernandez pitched the next 3 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four. Light yielded one run on four hits and a walk over three innings, recording three strikeouts.
THE NOTE
DP Mac Barbara became the third San Diego State player with 60 RBIs in a season, which is tied with Jenavee Peres (2017) for the second most with the Aztecs. Lorena Bauer (2015) holds the school single-season record with 67 RBIs.
THE NOTE II
SDSU spotted Arizona State eight runs in the first inning. San Diego State cut the lead to three (8-5) after an inning, two (8-6) after two innings and to two game (10-8) after the third but couldn't quite close the gap.
STAT OF THE DAY
P Allie Light is now 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in six relief innings in the NCAA Tempe Regional, striking out six with one walk.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play the winner of Game 4 of the NCAA Tempe Regional between No. 22/20 [2] LSU and [4] Cal State Fullerton at approximately 8 p.m. PT.
NCAA Tempe Regional
Tempe, Ariz. - Farrington Stadium
May 20-22, 2022
Double-Elimination
Friday, May 20
Game 1: [3] San Diego State 10, No. 22/20 [2] LSU 5
Game 2: No. 8/5 [1] Arizona State 5, [4] Cal State Fullerton 2
Saturday, May 21
Game 3: No. 8/5 [1] Arizona State 11, [3] San Diego State 8
Arizona State (41-9) 802 010 0 -- 11 15 1
San Diego State (38-15) 512 000 0 -- 8 13 0
Lopez, Schuld (2) and Puk; Balint, Hernandez (1), Light (5) and Romanello
W - Schuld, 10-2; L - Balint, 18-6
Game 4, 5:30 p.m. PT: No. 22/20 [2] LSU vs. [4] Cal State Fullerton
Game 5, approx. 8 p.m. PT: [3] San Diego State vs. winner of Game 4
Sunday, May 22
Game 6, 3 p.m. PT: [1] Arizona State vs. winner of Game 5
Game 7, 5:30 p.m. PT: If necessary
SDSU Falls at No. 8/5 Arizona State, 11-8
