San Diego State softball came into the weekend with some big momentum after winning four in a row last weekend.

The Aztecs faced off against Arizona State and their ace, Kenzie Brown.

The winner of the game would move on to face UCLA Saturday afternoon with a chance to make the regional championship game. The Aztecs ended up winning the game late, thanks to a two-run seventh inning, making it a 3-2 victory for the Aztecs.

San Diego State started the game with a run before fans could get settled into their seats.

Bella Espinoza singled and then stole second, putting herself in scoring position. The trustworthy and old reliable Cali Decker stepped in and hit a blooper to left to bring in Espinoza. The Aztecs took advantage quickly and punched first. Grace Uribe was tasked with the start for the Aztecs.

The Sun Devils responded with a sacrifice fly from Kelsey Hall to score Tanya Windle to tie the ball game at one a piece.

Aztecs 🆙 early!! @bellaespinoza18 steals her way into scoring position and scores on @CaliDecker’s single!!

📺: ESPN2#GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/D1M4Mj4lhI

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 17, 2025

The Aztecs and Sun Devils were in a pitcher’s duel from that point until the sixth inning.

That was the case until Windle came up to the plate and drove in Ashleigh Mejia to make it 2-1 Sun Devils. Cece Cellura came in relief of Uribe after she went the first three innings, only giving up one run. Cellura pitched the last four innings, only giving up the one run in the sixth.

Cellura spoke about coming in and her approach relieving Uribe “I feel like we feed off of each other, when one is dominate, the other is dominate. The conversations about the hitters and the strike zone and what she is seeing, having these conversations, helps me stay in my game, and I can beat these hitters. Knowing I have my defense and the bats behind me,” Cellura said.

THAT BABY IS GONE!!!!!!@gracebelleuribe HITS A 💣 AND WE ARE TIED IN THE SEVENTH!!

📺: ESPN2#GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/18Gs41v8nV

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 17, 2025

With the Aztecs down by a run, Coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz and the Aztecs huddled up, hoping to create a spark. Coach Nuveman-Deniz spoke about that moment. “With Grace, in particular, the changeup is a great pitch for her. Grace hits changeups really well, so hit the change. It was about having quality at-bats and not being passive, and being more aggressive with our plan. Continuing to fight,” the Aztecs coach said.

SDSU created the spark with an Uribe solo home run to even the score 2-2. After the Uribe home run, Gabriella Terrones was called upon again in a tough spot with the Aztecs needing a good at-bat. Terrones provided more than a good at bat; she gave the Aztecs the lead going back-to-back with Uribe as the Aztecs now led 3-2. Terrones, after the game, described the feeling of hitting two big home runs in the past week for the Aztecs. “It feels so good, it feels amazing. I just knew after Grace’s at bat that I had the confidence to get it done,” Terrones said.

SEE. YOU. LATER.@gabbyterrones11 DOES IT AGAIN!! HER SECOND LATE GAME GO-AHEAD PINCH-HIT 💣 IN THE LAST WEEK!!

📺: ESPN2#GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/VpQsFGZ6X3

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 17, 2025

With the Aztecs now leading 3-2. Cellura was being tasked with slamming the door shut on the Sun Devils. Cellura got the first two batters out before Ayden Allen hit a two-out double. With the tying run on second, and the game-winning run at the plate. Cellura struck out the last batter to secure the 3-2 victory for the Aztecs. Cellura talked about her mindset heading into the last at bat to secure the win for the Aztecs. “I am not letting her beat me, whether it was a ground out, I knew I wanted to strike out, and I needed to trust myself, setting her up to strike her out. It was a dominant mindset,” Cellura said.

.@cellura2023 SLAMS THE DOOR ONCE MORE!!

📺: ESPN2#GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/9zFCjhtpmE

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) May 17, 2025

After the game, Coach Nuveman-Deniz had this to say about the electric thriller. “That’s postseason softball, just to have a pitcher’s duel and then home runs, it was weird. Hats off to Kenzie Brown, she is the real deal—huge moments to step up and maintain confidence. I loved our fight and our conference tournament, having to win four games in a row, prepared us for this,” Coach Nuveman-Deniz said. Uribe spoke about her thoughts before her game-tying home run; “Honestly, I didn’t really have any nerves; it was easy to go into the at bat, going dang she beat me twice. Everybody I talked to said you are on her. Coach Curly said I would be scared to pitch to you right now. I went in confident, and eventually the ball was going to fall for me,” Uribe said.

Coach Nuveman-Deniz discussed facing UCLA for the second time this year and the approach heading into Saturday. “What happened in March is irrelevant. We are a totally different team, it doesn’t matter who they have in the circle, we are going to go out there and compete. I like our chances, with the fortitude, the competition, and the way we battled, it doesn’t matter who is in the other dugout. We will do the same thing tomorrow and see what happens,” The SDSU coach said. Uribe also spoke about Saturday’s upcoming matchup; “I feel like postseason is postseason, everyone earned their way here and there is nobody we can’t beat when we play our best softball, and why not us at the end of the day,” Uribe said with confidence.

The Aztecs face off against UCLA Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

If the Aztecs lose, they will face the winner of UCSB versus Arizona State at 7 p.m.. Saturday Night.

If the Aztecs were to win, they could face any of the three teams remaining in the field on Sunday evening at 4:30 p.m.

Bryant Thursby

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