San Diego State Aztecs softball returns to the Mesa after a rough 0-5 weekend in Fullerton.

The Aztecs play four games in two days versus three teams. They open their weekend with a two-game doubleheader on Friday vs. LMU (Loyola Marymount University). The two games will not be televised, but you can follow the stats online. The first game will start at 3:30 p.m., and the second game will begin at 6:00 p.m.

On Saturday, both games will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. The Aztecs play Sacramento State at noon and then face off against the 6th-ranked team in the nation, the UCLA Bruins.

The Aztecs historically have done well against LMU, defeating the Lions 23 times in an all-time series record of 23-4. The Aztecs have not played Sac State since 2011 and are 4-0 against them.

Sac State is 12-8 on the year, facing off against multiple MW foes. The Hornets are 1-3 against the Mountain West so far this season, and the lone win came against San Jose State. The Aztecs should be able to take care of business before facing one of the toughest teams they will face all season. For those who do not know, Coach Deniz had a historic career for the Bruins and is a legend in UCLA Softball lore. The Aztecs are a whopping 2-69 against the Bruins.

The Aztecs possess the talent to compete with the Bruins. The main question. Will the Aztecs play a clean game?

In the Aztec losses this year, they have struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, as well as being able to play a clean defensive game.

If SDSU is going to compete against the Bruins, they need to be clean on defense and use fundamentals. The Aztecs do a great job of working counts at the plate. The Bruins’ pitching staff will bode issues for the Aztec batters, though. Two batters are key for the Aztecs. Bella Espinoza and Jazmin Williams.

Espinoza is coming off of a very rough weekend in Fullerton — a weekend where she started 0-for-8. Espinoza is a great leadoff hitter for the Aztecs, a terrific bunter, and someone who can change games on the base paths. In the Aztecs’ big 4-1 week in Clearwater, she led the tournament in steals and was like lighting on the base paths. Espinoza will have to get going at the plate and put fear into opposing coaches with what she can do on the bases.

Williams hit her first career home run last weekend in Fullerton. She has a .821 OPS so far this season and has been electric at times at the dish. The Aztecs need her to own opposing pitchers and answer the call when runners are on base. If she is able to do that, the Aztec lineup becomes more dangerous.

The pitching staff for the Aztecs will have to do big things to achieve an undefeated weekend.

Grace Uribe and Dee Dee Hernandez, the two veterans on the staff, will need to pitch well. Ava Schaffel and Cece Cellura, the two young and talented pitchers for the Aztecs, will need to dominate as well. All four have shown they are more than capable of being dominant so far this year for the Aztecs.

Uribe and Schaffel had amazing weekends in Clearwater. Hernandez showed at the Mary Nutter how devasting she can be with her breaking pitches, posting 0.00 ERA in three games. Cellura showed last weekend the very reason why she was picked as the Mountain West Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

If all four can be on their game, a 4-0 week is attainable for the Aztecs.

Bryant Thursby

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