SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State softball team travels to Albuquerque for a Wednesday doubleheader at New Mexico. First pitch for the Aztecs (20-13, 7-2 MW) and Lobos (10-30, 2-7 MW) for the opener is 11 a.m. MT (10 a.m. PT) at Lobo Softball Field.
Although SDSU has already played two doubleheaders out of its three conference series so far, this is the only planned one on the 22-game MW schedule. Because of incoming rain, San Diego State played at Fresno State for a doubleheader on March 22 and then the finale on March 24. To beat the rain last weekend, the Aztecs played host to Colorado State twice on Thursday and finished up their series sweep on Friday night. SDSU welcomes Boise State for solo games on Saturday (4 p.m. PT) and Sunday (noon PT) before resuming its normal three-game weekend schedule over three days for the rest of conference season, beginning April 12-14 at San Jose State.
San Diego State enters the UNM games on Wednesday with five consecutive victories and wins in 11 of its last 13 games (11-2). In nine games in MW play this season, the Aztecs are outscoring the opposition, 42-17.
SDSU has played the ninth-toughest non-conference schedule this year, according to the NCAA's RPI, which was released Monday. San Diego State is ranked 31st overall in the metric with the 15th-toughest strength of schedule overall. Out of the Aztecs' 24 non-conference games this season, 17 have come against teams that made the 2023 NCAA tournament (SDSU is 7-10 in those games), including three against Women's College World Series programs, and nine have been against nationally ranked squads (San Diego State is 2-7).
Lala Macario is leading the Aztecs in batting average (.323), runs (27), hits (30) and stolen bases (14). Mac Barbara (.321) has continued to provide pop with seven of SDSU's 11 home runs and 28 RBIs, while slugging .595 with a .459 on-base mark. Barbara is the MW preseason player of the year. Macey Keester (.309) is also hitting over .300 with six 11 runs and six stolen bases.
San Diego State's pitching staff has shined so far, combining for a 2.29 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 229 innings against just 38 walks. Dee Dee Hernandez leads the staff with a 6-2 record, one save and 2.10 ERA in 42 1/3 innings, striking out 26 with eight walks, limiting the opposition to a .242 average. Cece Cellura has come on strong in her first season on The Mesa, posting a 5-2 record with a save and 2.17 ERA in 74 1/3 innings, striking out 30 against four walks. Defending MW Pitcher of the Year and the preseason pitcher of the year Allie Light is 8-7 with two saves and a 2.49 ERA in 84 1/3 innings, striking out 49 with 22 walks.
Wednesday's doubleheader will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network
Aztecs Head to New Mexico for Wednesday Doubleheader
