LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The San Diego State softball team swept a doubleheader on the first day of the Louisville Slugger Invitational Friday night in Long Beach, California. The Aztecs (11-11) opened with an 8-4 win over 2023 NCAA tournament team Grand Canyon before downing host Long Beach State, 7-1, in the nightcap.
In the opener, SDSU scored the first six runs of the game, including a grand slam by Mac Barbara, and held on to an 8-4 win over the Antelopes (16-5).
San Diego State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Lala Macario and Barbara each reached on consecutive singles. Cali Decker followed with a double for the first run of the game. After back-to-back groundouts, AJ Murphy singled home Barbara.
The Aztecs loaded the bases in the third on consecutive Macario and Barbara singles, and a four-pitch walk drawn by Angie Yellen. With two outs, however, Jade Ignacio struck out swinging and Murphy grounded out to the GCU shortstop.
SDSU loaded the bases once again in the fourth as Makena Brocki, Bella Espinoza and Macey Keester all reached on singles. After a Macario flyout, Barbara drilled a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall for the grand slam. It was her sixth home run of the season and first grand slam.
Grand Canyon finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth against San Diego State relief pitcher Allie Light, scoring four times with the RBIs coming on a Kristin Fifield triple, Ramsay Lopez single, Makaiya Gomez groundout and a Kaitlyn Brannstrom double.
The Aztecs, however, answered in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases for a third time of the game on a Marcario single, Barbara four-pitch walk and Decker single. After a Yellen strikeout, Marcario scored on a wild pitch. Katie Goldberg followed with a groundout to plate Barbara with the final run of the game.
Barbara and Macario had three hits apiece to pace SDSU, which outhit the Antelopes, 12-8, in the game. Barbara was 3-for-3 with a grand slam, three runs and a walk, while Macario was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Decker added two hits, including the RBI double, and Murphy reached twice with a RBI single and a walk.
Cece Cellura (3-1) picked up the win after tossing six scoreless innings across two appearances in the game, allowing five hits, while striking out two. Light did not record an out, while giving up four runs on three hits and a walk. Dee Dee Hernandez finished the game with a scoreless seventh, hitting two batters without allowing a hit or a walk.
In the nightcap, San Diego State once again scored the first six runs of the game and beat host LBSU (4-18), 7-1.
The Aztecs wasted no time, scoring four runs on just two hits in the top of the first inning. Macario and Barbara each walked to lead off the game and moved up a base on a Decker groundout. Macario then scored on a wild pitch before Yellen followed with another walk. Murphy followed with a double to left-center field to score both runners. After Goldberg struck out swinging and Brocki walked, Espinoza reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Keester came through with an infield single to knock in Murphy but Macario struck out looking to end the big inning.
SDSU loaded the bases again in the second with hits by Decker, Yellen and Goldberg, but Brocki flied out to right field.
In the third, Espinoza singled and Macario later walked with one out. After Barbara struck out looking, Decker doubled down the right-field line to make it 6-0, San Diego State.
After a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, Long Beach State got on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly.
The Aztecs answered in the sixth as a Brocki sac fly plated Yellen, which would be the final run of the game.
Four SDSU players had two hits apiece as the visitors outhit LBSU, 11-3. Decker was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk, Yellen was 2-for-3 with two runs, a walk and hit by pitch, Keester was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Espinoza was 2-for-3 with a run. Macario walked three times and scored a pair of runs.
Light (5-6) picked up the win, yielding one run on two hits and a walk over four innings, striking out one. Cassidy West pitched a scoreless three innings of relief with just one hit allowed, while striking out three.
THE NOTE
San Diego State has now won 20 consecutive games when scoring at least seven runs.
THE NOTE II
Mac Barbara had her 37th home run as an Aztec in the first game, tied with Haley Miles (2011-12, 14-15) for the third most in program history.
STAT OF THE DAY
RHP Cece Cellura stretched her career-long scoreless streak to 15 2/3 innings with six today.
UP NEXT
SDSU finishes up its play in the Louisville Slugger Invitational on Saturday with games against North Dakota (3 p.m. PT) and Cal State Fullerton (5:30 p.m. PT) in Fullerton.
Game 1: San Diego State 8, Grand Canyon 4
Grand Canyon (16-5) 000 004 0 -- 4 8 3
San Diego State 200 402 x -- 8 12 1
Golden, Hudsen (3), Darwin (4), Schumacher (6) and Lucas; Cellura, Light (6) and Decker
W - Cellura, 3-1; L - Golden, 3-2
HR: San Diego State, Barbara (6)
Game 2: San Diego State 7, Long Beach State 1
San Diego State (11-11) 402 001 0 -- 7 11 1
Long Beach State (4-18) 001 000 0 -- 1 3 1
Light, West (5) and Decker, Ignacio (5); Quinlan, Barnett (2) and Durazo
W - Light, 5-6; L - Quinlan, 0-3
SDSU Sweeps on Friday at Louisville Slugger Invite
