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Mac Barbara’s three-run homer the difference for the Aztecs
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 23, 2024 (Cathedral City, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team handed No. 11/13 Missouri its first loss of the season in a 3-2 win Thursday night at Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, California.
The Aztecs (6-5), who are receiving votes in both national polls, received a three-run home run by Mac Barbara in the bottom of the third inning and excellent pitching for their second win over a ranked opponent this season (also No. 25/rv Kentucky on Feb. 10).
In the third, SDSU got two runners on base with two outs when Micaela Macario reached on an error and Bella Espinoza followed with an infield single. Barbara then took a 3-2 pitch over the fence for her third homer of the season.
The Tigers (10-1), who entered the weekend outscoring their opponents, 70-14, didn’t really threaten San Diego State until the bottom of the fifth inning. MU quickly loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Alex Honnold followed with a sacrifice fly to score Claire Calahan, but Aztec starting pitcher Allie Light struck out Julia Crenshaw swinging and got Maddie Gallagher to line out to third base to get out of the inning with just one run allowed.
Kayley Lenger led off the sixth with a home run. SDSU relief pitcher Dee Dee Hernandez, however, induced consecutive groundouts and, after giving up a single to Mya Dodge, got Jenna Laird to line out to Espinoza in left field to end the inning.
Light (3-1) replaced Hernandez in the seventh and worked around a two-out single by Kara Daly by getting Gallagher to ground out to Barbara at first base to end the game.
Light picked up the win after allowing one run on four this and a walk over five innings, striking out one. Hernandez yielded one run on three hits and a walk over two innings of relief, also recording a single strikeout.
THE NOTE
1B Mac Barbara has all three of the Aztecs’ home runs on the season and 16 of the 33 RBIs.
THE NOTE II
Missouri is ninth game this season for SDSU against a team that made the 2023 NCAA tournament. San Diego State is 4-5 in those games.
STAT OF THE DAY
The win over the Tigers is the highest-ranked triumph by San Diego State since beating No. 5/5 Washington, 7-5, on Feb. 25, 2022 in the same Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs play Nebraska (10 a.m. Friday) and Bethune-Cookman (3 p.m.) on Friday.
San Diego State 3, No. 11/13 Missouri 2
Missouri (10-1) 000 011 0 -- 2 7 1
San Diego State (6-5) 003 000 x -- 3 3 0
Krings and Crenshaw; Light, Hernandez (5), Light (7) and Decker, Garcia (5)
W - Light, 3-1; L - Krings, 5-1
HR: Missouri, Langer (1); San Diego State, Barbara (3)
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