The Aztecs needed a win on Thursday to stay on the winner’s side of the bracket.

They did not get it done, losing 3-0 to the Bulldogs of Fresno State. The 3-0 loss to the Bulldogs was the first loss for the Aztecs in the Mountain West Tournament since 2022. Serayah Neiss of the Bulldogs was electric in the circle for Fresno State. In back-to-back games, the Mountain West Pitcher of the Year has pitched a complete game shutout.

Grace Uribe started for the Aztecs and had a good game.

She gave up one earned run and then two unearned runs. The two unearned runs came in the fourth inning with the Aztecs down by one. Uribe gave up two singles before she induced a pop fly to right center. Julie Holcomb and Ally Dueker ran in to track the ball down for the out, but neither communicated. The two ran into each other, and the ball dropped, making it a 3-0 ball game.

.@gracebelleuribe gets going early, picking up her first K of the night in a scoreless first inning! #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/YXA5ryCv32

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 9, 2025

The Aztec offense did not struggle to get runners on base against Neiss. They got nine hits off of her, including two walks.

The problem?

San Diego State was hitless with runners in scoring position. The Aztecs had a runner on second or third in all but two innings, but they just could not get that one big hit to bring a run in. Three Aztecs went hitless, with two of those three batters leaving four runners on base each. This is not a recipe for success for Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz and her squad.

Cece Cellura came in and shut it down after relieving Uribe in the fourth. Cellura pitched like she had a chip on her shoulder for not winning the Mountain West Pitcher of the Year award. Everything was working for her. Going into tomorrow’s game versus Boise State, she had this to say. “They have big bats, so I have to bring my best; they have an amazing offense, so I gotta bring my best no matter what.” The Broncos do indeed have big bats. Boise State was the best offense in the entire conference this year. Not only were they the best offense in the conference, but they were also in the top ten in the entire country entering tournament play.

An inning later, @cellura2023 picks up another K in a scoreless sixth inning! #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/4sezj4UODU

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 9, 2025

The Broncos played the No. 1-seeded Nevada Wolf Pack on Thursday before the Fresno State vs. San Diego State game.

Going into the seventh inning, the Broncos were down 8-1, but scored three in the inning, which made it an 8-4 loss. While the Broncos do have an elite offense, their pitching would be considered below average, ranking seventh in the conference with a 4.87 ERA. The Aztec bats need to come alive heading into Friday’s matchup. When asked about the message in the locker room after the 3-0 loss to Fresno State, Cellura had this to say. “It was we have nothing to lose tomorrow, we either come out swinging or we back off and go out a way we don’t want to go out.”

Coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz sent a clear message: Come out with a swagger and play dangerously in the box, in the circle, and on the field.

The Aztecs have the ability to turn the dial offensively, and it is now do or die. The Aztec pitching staff, with Uribe, Cellura, and Dee Dee Hernandez, will have their hands full on Friday.

A key to victory is keeping Boise State star Sophia Knight have the base paths and keeping the ball in the yard. Offensively, the Aztecs got hits, but they need the big ones with runners on base. The goal on Friday should be to hit .300 or better with runners on and runners in scoring position. If they do those two things, the Aztecs will have a date with the loser of Fresno State against Nevada immediately after the conclusion of their game versus Boise State.

Nevada will face Fresno State at Noon for a spot in the championship game. After the conclusion of that game, the loser will face the winner of Boise State versus San Diego State. San Diego State will play Boise State at 3 p.m. on the Mountain West Network.

Bryant Thursby

Assistant Coach at Heritage High School. A big time SDSU fanatic and Padres fan.