TEMPE, Ariz. -- The San Diego State softball team rallied from a 5-0 deficit by scoring the final eight runs of the game in an 8-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton in an NCAA Tempe Regional elimination game Saturday night at Farrington Stadium. With the win, the Aztecs (39-15) advanced to the NCAA Tempe Regional final to face No. 8/5 Arizona State at 3 p.m. PT Sunday.
SDSU will have to beat the top-seeded Sun Devils (41-9) twice on Sunday (if necessary game is 5:30 p.m. PT) to advance to the NCAA super regionals for the first time in program history. San Diego State lost to ASU, 11-8, in game three earlier Saturday.
For the second game of the day, the Aztecs spotted their opponent a big lead early as the Titans (37-22) jumped out to a 5-0 lead.
CSF got to SDSU early in the top of the first inning when Jessi Alcala hit a three-run home run over the left-field wall.
In the second, Cal State Fullerton quickly loaded the bases on a pair of singles with a fielding error in the middle. Peyton Toto then singled to second base to score a pair of runners. With runners on second and third, however, San Diego State pitcher Maggie Balint got Daisy Munoz to ground out to shortstop AJ Murphy. First baseman Taylor Adams then threw out Megan Delgadillo at home with catcher Danielle Romanello applying the ta and ending the inning.
Murphy got the Aztecs' first hit in the bottom of the second, and Alexa Schultz and Danielle Romanello added a pair of one-out singles to load the bases. Titan pitcher Raci Miranda got Makena Brocki to ground into a fielder's choice where Murphy was forced out at home, but Nicole Siess then drew a walk on the ninth pitch of the plate appearance to put SDSU on the scoreboard. Bella Espinoza, however, grounded out to Toto at shortstop and San Diego State as held to just one run in the inning.
The Aztecs loaded the bases again in the third on a Mac Barbara single, Jillian Celis single and a Schultz walk. SDSU didn't leave any runners on base this time as Romanello drilled a grand slam over the center-field fence to tie the game at 5-5. It was Romanello's fifth home run of the season.
San Diego State finally took the lead in the fifth on a two-out error by left fielder Kika Ramirez, which allowed both Celis and Audrey Kull to score. Later in the inning, Bella Espinoza, who reached on a fielding error, stole second and the errant throw by catcher Alcala allowed Nicole Siess to add an insurance run for the Aztecs, the final run of the game.
SDSU received an outstanding effort from relief pitcher Allie Light. Light (7-3) tossed five scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk, while striking out a career-high seven batters. Balint started the game and yielded five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk over two innings, while striking out one.
Romanello was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, a run and a walk to lead San Diego State, which matched Cal State Fullerton with eight hits. Schultz (1-for-2, BB) and Celis (1-for-3, HBP) also reached base safely twice and added two runs apiece.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs advanced to their sixth NCAA Regional final in 12 NCAA tournament appearances.
THE NOTE II
C Danielle Romanello had SDSU's second grand slam in a NCAA tournament game, joining Patrice Jackson on May 18, 2013 against San Jose State in the same Farrington Stadium. It was also San Diego State's third grand slam of the season (Mac Barbara has the other two).
STAT OF THE DAY
After entering the NCAA Tempe Regional with a 5-3 record and 3.83 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, P Allie Light is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 11 innings at the regional, striking out 13 with just two walks.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play at No. 8/5 Arizona State at 3 p.m. PT Sunday.
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
Game 4: [4] Cal State Fullerton 3, No. 22/20 [2] LSU 2
Game 5: [3] San Diego State 8, [4] Cal State Fullerton 5
Cal State Fullerton (37-22) 320 000 0 -- 5 8 3
San Diego State (39-15) 014 030 x -- 8 8 1
Miranda, Sutherlin (3) and Alcala, Guevara (2); Balint, Light (3) and Romanello
W - Light, 7-3; L - Sutherlin, 16-7
HR: Cal State Fullerton, Alcala (7); San Diego State, Romanello (5)
Sunday, May 22
Game 6, 3 p.m. PT: [3] San Diego State at No. 8/5 [1] Arizona State
Game 7, 5:30 p.m. PT: If necessary