SAN DIEGO -- Jillian Celis hit a go-ahead single in the bottom of the fifth inning and three pitchers combined on a nine-hit shutout in San Diego State's 3-0 victory over Notre Dame on the second day of the SDSU Season Kickoff Friday night at SDSU Softball Stadium.
Dani Martinez, Dee Dee Hernandez and Allie Light combined on the shutout for the Aztecs (2-1), stranding 10 Fighting Irish (1-1) baserunners. Martinez got the start and allowed two hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings. Hernandez (1-0) picked up the win after giving up five hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings, while striking out two. Light earned the save, yielding two hits and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings.
SDSU left six runners on base, including bases loaded with one out in the first inning and Bella Espinoza after a leadoff triple in the third, but came through with three runs in the decisive fifth inning.
Espinoza reached on a one-out infield single in the fifth and Mac Barbara followed with a walk before being replaced by pinch runner Ally Dueker. Celis then took the first pitch she saw to center field to score Espinoza from second and, after a fielding error by ND center fielder Mickey Winchell, Dueker from first. Celis, who got all the way to third on the Dueker miscue, then scored on a deep sacrifice fly by AJ Murphy.
Notre Dame tried to answer in the sixth when it loaded the bases with three singles. With two outs, however, Light got leadoff hitter Carli Kross to pop up to Celis at shortstop to keep the shutout intact.
Light then retired the Fighting Irish in order in the seventh with two strikeouts looking, including the final out of the game against cleanup hitter Karina Gaskins.
San Diego State also stranded two ND runners in the first, second and third innings, and one in the fourth.
Espinoza had three of the seven hits in the game for the Aztecs and stole two bases. Celis reached base safely twice with the RBI single and a walk.
THE NOTE
SDSU shut out its first Power 5 opponent since a 4-0 win over No. 5/6 Washington on Feb. 26, 2021. None of the three pitchers tonight were on that San Diego State team.
THE NOTE II
The Aztecs won their ninth straight game played on a Friday.
STAT OF THE DAY
SDSU won its 23rd consecutive game when leading after five innings.
UP NEXT
San Diego State continues its play in the SDSU Season Kickoff with a single game against Memphis at 11:30 a.m. PT Saturday.
(rv/rv) San Diego State 3, (rv/rv) Notre Dame 0
Notre Dame (1-1) 000 000 0 -- 0 9 1
San Diego State (2-1) 000 030 x -- 3 7 0
Becker, Kastor (6) and Kloss; Martinez, Hernandez (2), Light (6) and Barbara, Decker (2)
W - Hernandez, 1-0; L - Becker, 0-1; SV - Light, 1
Other Friday Games at the SDSU Season Kickoff
Northern Illinois 5, Memphis 4
CSUN 5, Memphis 0
No. 22/rv Arizona State 4, Northern Illinois 3
rv/rv Notre Dame 7, No. 22/rv Arizona State 1