SDSU Softball Splits on Opening Day

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State battled for a sweep on opening day of the 2023 season at the SDSU Season Kickoff Thursday at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (1-1) edged CSUN, 5-4, in eight innings in the first game before falling to No. 22/rv Arizona State, 8-2, in the nightcap.
 
In the opener, Jade Ignacio's walk-off single plated Taylor Okada in the bottom of the eighth inning to give SDSU a 5-4 win over the Matadors (0-2).
 
San Diego State slugged five doubles and received a solo homer from Cali Decker, but CSUN rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh, including consecutive two-out RBI singles. Dani Martinez, however, struck out Kaylee Escutia to get out of the jam.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Jillian Celis hit a one-out double and moved to third on a single by AJ Murphy, but the Aztecs could not capitalize as Decker struck out swinging and Okada grounded into a fielder's choice to move onto extra innings.
 
In the eighth with Breli Agbayani Shibao on second base with the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Alexa Landeros quickly moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt. Mia Cortez hit a hard shot that bounced off the glove of Murphy at third, but Celis was able to handle it at shortstop and fire home to Decker at the plate to throw out Shibao and keep the score at 4-4.
 
SDSU took no time taking advantage in the bottom of the eighth as Okada moved from her spot at second base to third on a wild pitch and easily scored on Ignacio's gapper to center field.
 
San Diego State scored the first three runs of the game, including a Bella Espinoza single to score Macey Keester in the second, and, in the fourth, a Makena Brocki double to plate Elianna Reyes and a Mac Barbara single to knock in Brocki.
 
CSUN finally broke through with a run in the fifth when Samantha Kwiatkowski's double down the third-base line scored Bella Mejia.
 
Decker answered for the Aztecs in the fifth with a two-out, solo homer by Decker well over the left-field wall.
 
SDSU outhit the Matadors, 12-8, with six going for extra bases. Ignacio doubled, had the walk-off RBI and walked for San Diego State, while Brocki doubled twice, and Celis and Murphy added two hits apiece, including a double.
 
Martinez (1-0) picked up the win for the Aztecs after tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four with two hits and two walks allowed. The right-hander started the first four innings and then pitched the final 1 1/3 frames in the victory.
 
Dee Dee Hernandez gave up one run on two hits, while striking out three in two innings of relief, and Cassidy West allowed three runs on four hits in 2/3 innings.
 
In the nightcap, the Sun Devils (2-0) homered four times in an 8-2 win over SDSU in a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Tempe Regional final. Yanni Acuna, Emily Cazares, Jazmyn Rollin and Jordyn VanHook each homered for ASU.
 
San Diego State trailed, 6-0, after three innings, but got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Alexis Otero's pinch-hit single scored Decker.
 
The Aztecs' other run came in the fifth as a Celis sacrifice fly plated Espinoza.
 
Espinoza had two of SDSU's three hits, while Otero had its other. Barbara walked twice in four plate appearances.
 
Allie Light took the loss in the circle for San Diego State, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks over two innings, while striking out three. Sarah Lehman gave up four runs on six hits and two walks in three innings of relief, striking out four. Hernandez pitched a perfect two innings with one strikeout.
 
THE NOTE
In the opener, the Aztecs won their 22nd straight game when leading after five innings.
 
THE NOTE II
SDSU has won 11 consecutive games against teams from the state of California.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
San Diego State improved to 33-11 (.750) in season-opening games in recorded program history. The Aztecs have won 10 of their last 11 season openers, 21 of their last 23 and 24 of their last 27.
 
UP NEXT
SDSU continues its play in the San Diego State Season Kickoff with a single game against Notre Dame at 7 p.m. PT Friday.
 
Game 1: San Diego State 5, CSUN 4 (8 innings)
CSUN (0-2)                             000 010 30 -- 4 8 1
San Diego State                      010 210 01 -- 5 12 1
Wickum, Carranco (5) and Kwiatkowski; Martinez, Hernandez (5), West (7), Martinez (7) and Decker, Ignacio (5), Decker (7)
W - Martinez, 1-0; L - Carranco, 0-1
HR: San Diego State, Decker (1)
 
Game 2: No. 22/rv Arizona State 8, San Diego State 2
Arizona State (2-0)                042 020 0 -- 8 9 0
San Diego State (1-1)            000 110 0 -- 2 3 0
Osborne, Brown (5), Schuld (7) and Boccagno; Light, Lehman (3), Hernandez (6) and Decker, Barbara (7)
W - Osborne, 1-0; L - Light, 0-1
HR: Arizona State, Acuna (1), Cazares (1), Rollin (1), VanHook (1)