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![6/6 issue [1] University of California, Los Angeles / [4] Grand Canyon](https://d2qmgk0jyoscbx.cloudfront.net/images/logos/NCAALogoUpdated.png)
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Against No.6/6 [1] University of California, Los Angeles / [4] Grand Canyon
May 18, 2024 | TBA
May. 18th (Sat) / TBA
Against No.6/6 [1] University of California, Los Angeles / [4] Grand Canyon
LOS ANGELES – The San Diego State softball team will be in the City of Angels this weekend for the Los Angeles regional tournament of the NCAA Tournament. The third-seeded Aztecs, the Mountain West regular-season and tournament champions, tied with the second-seeded No. 15/17 Virginia Tech Hokies to begin regional play Friday afternoon. The Aztecs' batting lineup struggled against Hokies starter Emma Lemley, holding them scoreless in the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough and they lost 5-1.
With two outs in the top of the first inning, Katie Goldberg hit a single over the right field and stole second base to get into scoring position, but her teammates couldn't get her in.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Hokies took the lead with two singles. Dee Dee Hernandez replaced starter Allie Wright, and Stacey Neuveman's Deniz went to the bullpen, where Allie Wright pitched over two innings, allowing five hits, one run, and one strikeout. After a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs, Cameron Fagan hit a sacrifice fly to center field with Virginia Tech's first out. The next Hokie batter, Cori McMillan, hit a single on a grounder to second base in the inning that originally ended a double play. However, after a challenge by Virginia Tech, McMillan was initially ruled safe, putting runners on the corners with two outs. McMillan tried to steal second, but broke away early to end the frame.
The Hokies added some offense in the fourth inning. With one out, a walk and an error put runners on first and second base. Kyrie Aldridge's single advanced the runner on second base to third base and scored. Freshman Cece Cerulla replaced Dee Dee Hernandez, who pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, two runs, and one earned run. Virginia Tech extended its lead with a ground out and Cella induced a foul popout to end the inning.
Virginia Tech took the mound again in the fifth inning. Addie Green led off with a single and advanced to second base on a ground out. McMillan scored Green with a double to right-center field to make the game 4-0. Serula was able to escape the frame without causing any further damage.
The Aztecs took the mound in the top of the 6th inning. Makenna Brocki took advantage of an error to lead off the inning, and Eliana Reyes ran and grounded out to second base. Mac Barbara singled from the right side and Reyes scored the second point, cutting the Hokie lead to three points.
In the bottom of the inning, Virginia Tech scored one more run. With one out, Cerulla was allowed consecutive singles. She gave up two runs in two innings and was ejected from the game. After Green's RBI, Cassidy West came on, induced two flies, and Vera Espinoza made a running catch in the left field seats to end the inning.
In the seventh inning, Kari Decker hit a single with one out, but the next two batters were retired and the game ended. Lemley allowed only three singles in seven innings, allowing one run, and had six strikeouts.
Note
San Diego State's loss marks the first time the Aztecs have been eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since losing 8-3 to Texas in the 2015 Los Angeles Regional Tournament. That season, the Aztecs defeated CSUN and won a rematch against the Longhorns to advance to the regional finals.
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SDSU will face the loser of No. 4 seed Grand Canyon and top seed No. 6/6 UCLA on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Easton Stadium.
[2] 15th/17th Virginia Tech 5, [3] san diego state 1
San Diego State (31-19) 000 001 0 – 1 3 1
Virginia Tech (40-12-1) 001 211 X – 5 12 1
W – Lemley, 13-5. L – Wright, 12-8.
HR: None.
