SAN DIEGO -- Maggie Balint struck out 12 batters in a complete-game no-hitter to lead San Diego State to a 4-0 victory over Utah State in the series opener Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium. It was Balint's (16-5) first career no-hitter and the Aztecs' (34-12, 17-2 MW) first since Christina Ross tossed a five-inning perfect game in an 8-0 SDSU win over Brown on March 28, 2007.
San Diego State has won seven consecutive games.
The Aggies' (25-25, 10-9 MW) only baserunner came in the top of the fourth inning when Mazie Macfarlane reached on an Aztec fielding error.
Balint, who was named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week for the eighth time in 12 tries on Tuesday, struck out two batters in the first, one in the second, all three she faced in the third, one in the fifth, three again in the sixth and two in the seventh. Out of her 12 strikeouts, 10 were swinging and two were looking.
SDSU got all the runs it would need in the bottom of the fourth. Jillian Celis first drove in Audrey Kull with a single to center field. Alexa Schultz followed with a three-run home run just inside the left foul pole.
San Diego State loaded the bases in the fifth on a Nicole Siess walk, Bella Espinoza single and Taylor Adams walk, but with one out Danielle Romanello grounded into an inning-ending double play.
AJ Murphy had two of the Aztecs' seven hits in the game, while Adams was 1-for-1 with two walks. Mac Barbara singled in the first to stretch her NCAA-best consecutive reached base safely streak to 40 games.
THE NOTE
RHP Maggie Balint recorded her 13th double-digit strikeout game out of her 24 starts.
THE NOTE II
1B Taylor Adams has reached base safely in 13 of her last 15 plate appearances dating back to an April 20 game at UC San Diego. Over that span she has eight hits and five walks.
STAT OF THE DAY
Balint's no-hitter was SDSU's fifth in recorded history. Ross has the only perfect game (March 28, 2007 vs. Brown (5 inn.)), while Celena Velasquez (March 4, 2005 vs. Southern Utah), Bre DeSanta (March 4, 2003 vs. St. John's (6 inn.)) and March 18, 2003 vs. Nevada) have no-hitters. Balint has four complete-game one-hitters at San Diego State
UP NEXT
The Aztecs will look to clinch the series with Utah State at 4 p.m. PT Saturday.
San Diego State 4, Utah State 0
Utah State (25-25, 10-9 MW) 000 000 0 -- 0 0 0
San Diego State (34-12, 17-2 MW) 000 400 x -- 4 7 1
Reynolds, Millemon (6) and Jimenez; Balint and Romanello
W - Balint, 16-5; L - Reynolds, 8-12
HR: San Diego State, Schultz (2)
Maggie Balint No-Hits Utah State in 4-0 Aztec Victory
