Preview: Utah hosts San Diego State in first-ever Salt Lake City Super Regional
The Pac-12 heads into the Super Regional round of the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament with the most teams still vying for a national championship. How can Utah make it to Oklahoma City and the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 1994? Let’s take a look.
San Diego State (38-15) at Utah (40-13) — Salt Lake City Super Regional
The Utes are on a roll, winning nine straight games and two wins away from accomplishing their preseason goal of making the Women’s College World Series. The Utah offense has been dynamic throughout the season, especially the top of the lineup with Aliya Belarde, Ellessa Bonstrom, Sophie Jacquez and Julia Jimenez. Bonstrom has had 15 multi-RBI games this season. The freshmen duo of Karlie Davison and Abby Dayton have been dynamic too. Davison has homered in seven of her last nine games and Dayton has reached base in 15 straight games.
Mariah Lopez continues to carry the pitching staff. Regardless of the scoreboard, Amy Hogue rides her lefty game after game because of her ability to battle. Lopez has pitched complete games in six of her last seven outings. The junior threw 16.1 innings in the Salt Lake Regional and only allowed two earned runs and struck out 18 batters. Lopez works more up in the zone, while Sydney Sandez will be down in the zone. Sandez has been the other reliable arm but Sarah Ladd has gotten more work as of late.
San Diego State truly uses a committee. Lopez herself has 14 complete games this season. The Aztecs as a team have three. In some order, the team uses Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Allie Light, Dee Dee Hernandez and Sarah Lehman. Light and Hernandez get the ball on the ground but Light is a righty and Hernandez throws from the left side. Lehman works her riseball and has the best strikeout rate on the team.
Mac Barbara is the most dangerous bat in the Aztec lineup. She leads the team with 13 home runs and has hit 31 dingers the past two seasons. Jillian Celis and Cali Decker have been hot at the plate. Celis comes in on a six-game hitting streak, going 9-for-20 in that span. Decker has four home runs and 17 RBIs over the past eight games.
How can Utah win
The Utes have shown different ways to win during this hot streak to end the season. Lopez has won pitching duels and the Utah offense has come out on top in offensive barnburners. Utah will need good innings from Sandez and Ladd when called upon. With the way San Diego State handles its staff, it’ll be vastly important for the Utah bats to adjust on the fly. Though with hitting coach DJ Gasso at the helm, there should be a lot of confidence the Utes can do that.
Utah players to know
- RHP Mariah Lopez – 2.19 ERA, 21-5, 1 SV, 184 SO, .213 B/AVG
- 1B Ellessa Bonstrom – .338 AVG, 1.098 OPS, 12 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 52, 12 SB
- 3B Julia Jimenez – .364 AVG, 1.046 OPS, 14 2B, 9 HR, 47 RBI
- 2B Aliya Belarde – .400 AVG, .982 OPS, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 16 SB
San Diego State players to know
- RHP Allie Light – 1.86 ERA, 14-6, 7 SV, 104 SO, .211 B/AVG
- LHP Dee Dee Hernandez – 2.95 ERA, 8-3, 5 SV, 58 SO, .272 B/AVG
- 1B Mac Barbara – .367 AVG, 1.169 OPS, 8 2B, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 7 SB
- C Cali Decker – .382 AVG, 1.007 OPS, 4 2B, 6 HR, 40 RBI
Schedule
- Game 1: Friday, May 26, 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT | ESPN2
- Game 2: Saturday, May 27, 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT | TBD
- Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 28 | TBD
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