SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State softball team hits the road for the first time of the season this weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in the Palm Springs area.
The Aztecs (8-2), who are receiving votes in both major national polls, will play Cal State Fullerton (2:30 p.m. PT) and No. 18/18 Kentucky (5:30 p.m. PT) on Thursday, Brigham Young at 8 p.m. PT Friday, and Ohio State (3 p.m. PT) and No. 8/10 Washington (8 p.m. PT) on Saturday. SDSU's five opponents have combined for a 32-14-1 (.691) record so far this season and three - Cal State Fullerton (6-4), Kentucky (8-2) and Washington (9-2) - joined San Diego State in the 2022 NCAA tournament.
The Aztecs have been impressive in all three phases of the game, owning a .333 average (27th in NCAA out of 276 teams), 2.20 ERA (64th) and a .974 fielding percentage (63rd).
Jillian Celis leads the SDSU offense with a .419 average (13-for-31) to go along with two home runs, seven RBIs, six runs, four walks and a .472 on-base percentage, while Bella Espinoza is hitting an even .400 (14-for-35) with 10 runs and seven stolen bases. Macey Keester (.381, 4 R, 5 RBI) and Mac Barbara (.367, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 6 BB, .472 OB%) are also batting over .350 for San Diego State.
Barbara was named the Mountain West Player of the Week on Tuesday after batting .533 (8-for-15) last weekend with a home run, six RBIs, four runs, a double, two walks, a .800 slugging percentage and a .588 on-base mark.
Four pitchers have logged between 14 and 19 innings for the Aztecs, including Dani Martinez (3-0, 0.86 ERA, 16.1 IP), Dee Dee Hernandez (2-0, 1.84 ERA, 2 SV, 19.0 IP), Sarah Lehman (2-0, 2.10 ERA, 16.2 IP) and Allie Light (1-2, 2.44 ERA, 3 SV, 14.1 IP).
Weather permitting, all five of SDSU's games will be broadcast on FloSoftball and can be purchased via pay-per-view.
SDSU Heads to Loaded Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
