SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State continues its challenging non-conference schedule this weekend when it travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the Purple & Gold Challenge, hosted by No. 4/5 LSU.
The Aztecs (8-6), who are receiving votes in both national polls, play games against McNeese (1:30 p.m. CT) and LSU (6:30 p.m. CT) on Friday, Louisiana Tech (2:30 p.m. PT CT) and LSU (5 p.m. CT) on Saturday, and Illinois at 10 a.m. CT Sunday. The five participating teams have combined to go 43-18 (.705) on the season.
Out of San Diego State's 14 games so far this season, 11 have come against teams that made the 2023 NCAA tournament (the Aztecs are 5-6 in those games) and seven have been against nationally ranked squads (SDSU is 2-5). San Diego State's upcoming opponents this weekend McNeese and LSU (two games) both made the NCAA tournament last season with the latter hosting an NCAA regional.
Lala Macario leads the Aztec offense in many categories, including average (.343), runs (13), walks (8), stolen bases (10) and on-base percentage (.467). Mac Barbara, the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year, is hitting .303 with three home runs and 16 RBIs, slugging .606 with a .425 on-base mark.
Allie Light, the defending MW Pitcher of the Year and the preseason pitcher of the year, leads a pitching staff that has combined to record a 2.11 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 96 innings. Light is 4-2 with a 2.11 ERA in 38 1/3 innings, striking out 23 with nine walks. The right-hander was named the MW Pitcher of the Week on Monday for the fifth time of her career for her play last week at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (2-1 with a 1.97 ERA in 10 2/3 innings).
Both of SDSU's games against host LSU will be broadcast on SEC Network and ESPN+.
Aztecs Head to No. 4/5 LSU’s Purple & Gold Challenge
