Aztecs Rally Past LMU, 8-5

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State scored the final seven runs to rally for an 8-5 victory over LMU in the final game of the 33rd annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Sunday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
 
Down, 5-1, through five innings, the Aztecs (5-5) scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning and four more in the seventh to pick up their third victory of the season against a 2023 NCAA tournament team.
 
SDSU got to within one run at 5-4 with three runs in the sixth on four hits. Angie Yellen first came up with a pinch-hit single through the left side to plate Cali Decker. Lala Macario later scored pinch runner Elianna Reyes on a sacrifice fly before Yellen scored on a Mac Barbara single.
 
After stranding two Lion (2-7) runners in the bottom of the sixth, San Diego State scored four times in the seventh on just three hits. Yellen tied the game at 5-5 with a single that plated pinch runner Julie Holcomb. Macey Keester followed with a single to score Decker with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run. Keester and Macario later executed a double steal with Keester sliding home. Macario completed the scoring on a two-out wild pitch.
 
Allie Light retired LMU in order in the seventh to secure the win.
 
The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a two-run homer by Izzy Jamgotchian in the first and sac fly by Val Pero in the second.
 
The Aztecs cut into the lead in the third when a Makena Brocki single plated Macario.
 
LMU, however, answered with two runs in the third on an RBI single by Adele Braun and a RBI groundout by Jasmine Sofowora, before SDSU rallied in the final two innings.
 
San Diego State outhit the Lions, 12-8, but left 11 on base. Yellen came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run, while Decker was also 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and two walks. Barbara (RBI) and Espinoza (2 SB) each added two hits apiece, and Alyssa Garcia reached twice with a single and a walk.
 
Light (2-1) picked up the win after allowing one hit and no walks over 1 2/3 innings of relief, striking out one. Dee Dee Hernandez got the start and gave up three runs on three hits over two innings. Cece Cellura pitched the middle 3 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on four hits and a walk, striking out two.
 
THE NOTE
The Aztecs won their 15th consecutive game when outhitting their opponent.
 
THE NOTE II
SDSU improved to 4-1 on the season against teams from the state of California, including four straight wins.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
San Diego State snapped a 25-game losing streak when trailing after six innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Aztecs begin a stretch of 13 of their next 14 games away from San Diego next weekend at the Cathedral City Classic. SDSU is scheduled to play No. 14/15 Missouri at 5 p.m. PT Thursday, Nebraska (10 a.m. PT) and Bethune-Cookman (3 p.m. PT) on Friday, and No. 1/1 Oklahoma at 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday.
 
San Diego State 8, LMU 5
San Diego State (5-5)            001 003 4 -- 8 12 1
LMU (2-7)                               212 000 0 -- 5 8 0
Hernandez, Cellura (3), Light (6) and Garcia, Decker (6); Perez, Samperio (6), O'Dell (7), Hubbard (7) and Pero
W - Light, 2-1; L - O'Dell, 1-2
HR: LMU, Jamgotchian (1)
 
Final Campbell/Cartier Classic Records
1. rv/No. 25 Texas A&M, 5-0
T2. No. 17/14 Oregon, 2-3
T2. San Diego State, 2-3
4. LMU, 1-4