SAN DIEGO – After a 7-3 defeat at the hands of Nevada on Friday night, San Diego State softball had an opportunity to bounce back on Saturday but allowed a five-run Wolf Pack rally in the sixth inning in a 5-2 defeat. The Aztecs' (26-16, 13-5 MW) lead over the Wolf Pack (38-13, 14-7) in the Mountain West standings is down to just half a game.
Despite having just one hit through six innings, the Aztecs were able to manufacture a pair of runs on groundouts.
In the second inning, Katie Goldberg led off with a walk and stole second before advancing to third on an Angie Yellen flyout to right field. Makena Brocki followed Yellen with a ground ball that deflected off Wolf Pack first baseman Taryn Jenkins to second baseman Bridgette Gilliano, who was able to throw out Brocki at first base. The play allowed Goldberg to score as the Aztecs took a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, Cali Decker had a leadoff single through the middle for SDSU's first hit of the ballgame. Julie Holcomb ran for Decker and stole second. Following an Alyssa Garcia walk, Goldberg grounded out to first, advancing both runners. Yellen then grounded out to second, scoring Holcomb and extending the Aztec lead to 2-0.
Aztec starter Dee Dee Hernandez walked two in the first inning but escaped the jam by striking out Taryn Jenkins looking. After allowing a leadoff single in the second, Hernandez settled down, retiring the next 12 Wolf Pack hitters.
In the top of the sixth, things unraveled for the Scarlet and Black. Nevada began the inning with three straight singles before a sacrifice fly by Gabby Herrera cut the Aztec lead in half. Hernandez was pulled in favor of Allie Light out of the bullpen but that did not slow down the Wolf Pack. Taryn Jenkins drove a two-run double down the left field line before Aaliyah Jenkins followed it up with a two-run home run to left that barely stayed fair. Light was able to retire the next two hitters, but the damage had been done.
Light worked around a single in the seventh to give the Aztecs a chance in the bottom of the inning. San Diego State brought the tying run to the plate thanks to one-out singles from Angie Yellen and Makena Brocki. With Brocki and Yellen on second and third, Bella Espinoza hit a ground ball to short. Yellen was caught in a rundown between third base and home for the second out as Brocki advanced to third and Espinoza reached second. Jade Ignacio stepped to the plate for Macey Keester but struck out as the Wolf Pack won 5-2.
Nevada starter Carley Brown pitched a compete game, throwing 101 pitches and facing 27 batters. Brown earned the win, improving to 12-3 while Hernandez fell to 8-3 with the loss.
THE NOTE
San Diego State's series loss is just its first since March 17-19, 2023, when the Aztecs dropped two of three to open conference play against Colorado State.
UP NEXT
SDSU plays at home for the final time this season on Sunday, when it takes on the Wolf Pack at noon. The team will honor seniors Katie Goldberg, Alyssa Garcia, Cassidy West, Macey Keester, Allie Light, Mac Barbara, Elianna Reyes, Jeweliana Perez and Makena Brocki.
Nevada 5, San Diego State 2
Nevada (38-13, 14-7 MW) 000 005 0 – 5 7 0
San Diego State (26-16, 13-5 MW) 010 100 0 – 2 3 0
W – Brown, 12-3; L – Hernandez, 8-3
HR: Nevada, A. Jenkins (12)