AZTECS FALL INTO LOSER’S BRACKET AT SOFTBALL REGIONAL

The San Diego State softball team spotted host No. 8/5 Arizona State eight runs in the top of the first inning and couldn’t quite come back in an 11-8 loss in Game 3 of the NCAA Tempe Regional Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, the Aztecs (38-15) fell into the loser’s bracket to face Cal State Fullerton in an elimination game late Saturday night, while the Pac-12 champion Sun Devils (41-9) advance to the regional final at 3 p.m. today. Cal State Fullerton beat LSU 3-2.

ASU scored its eight runs in the first on seven hits, including four on two-strike counts, a walk and a hit batter.

SDSU came roaring back in the bottom of the first, quickly loading the bases on singles by Bella Espinoza, Taylor Adams and AJ Murphy. With one out, Jillian Celis ripped a single through the right side to score Espinoza. Alexa Schultz then cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line. Schultz later scored on a fielding error with Makena Brocki at the plate to bring San Diego State to within three runs at 8-5.

In the second inning, Murphy drove in Espinoza to make it 8-6. The Aztecs loaded the bases but couldn’t score another run.

ASU and the Aztecs scored twice in the third to make it 10-8. Arizona State scored once in the fifth for the final margin.

More local colleges

SDSU closed out its disappointing baseball campaign on a sour note, dropping a 5-1 decision at UNLV. The Rebels (36-20, 21-9 MW) hit three home runs to help capture the rubber game of the weekend series and defeat the Aztecs (18-38, 10-20) for the fifth time in six meetings this season.

The UC San Diego softball team (28-26) advanced to the next round of the National Invitational Softball Championship Super Regionals after defeating Rutgers (25-29), 7-5, at Fort Collins, Colo. The Tritons will face No. 2-seeded Baylor.

Locally

Second-seeded Charleen Hillebrand of Long Beach eased past top-seed Catherine Anderson of Del Mar, 6-0, 6-1 in 40 minutes to win the USTA National Women’s Senior Hard Court 80 and over singles title at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

The San Diego Legion defeated the Nola Gold 42-12 in New Orleans to improve to 8-7 in Major League Rugby play and keep their playoff hopes alive going into the final game of the season. Jason Higgins scored three trys and is only the 19th player in league history to score a hat trick.

The San Diego Loyal dropped a 2-1 USL Championship decision at the RGV Toros. Kyle Vassell scored in the 37th minute for the Loyal.

Dane Dobbie scored at 2:26 of overtime to lift the San Diego Seals to an 11-10 victory at the Colorado Mammouth to force Game 3 in their Major Lacrosse League playoff series next Saturday at Pechanga Arena.

The San Diego Strike Force (2-7) lost at home to Tucson, 68-65, in Indoor Football League play.

The L.A. Rams are bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to San Diego as part of an eight-week tour of Southern California and Mexico. The trophy, along with the Rams’ mascot, Rampage, will be available from noon to 4 p.m. today in the Lighthouse District of Seaport Village on Harbor Drive.

Tennis

Casper Ruud retained his Geneva Open title by beating Joao Sousa 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (1). The three-hour match was the longest three-set final on the ATP Tour this year.

Former No. 1 Angelique Kerber outlasted first-time WTA finalist Kaja Juvan 7-6 (5), 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5) over more than three hours in the Strasbourg International final.

Soccer

Kylian Mbappe celebrated with fans at Parc des Princes then scored a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Metz after signing a new three-year contract with Paris Saintgermain

and turning down the chance again to join Real Madrid. France’s World Cupwinning star stood on a platform near the center circle as he addressed fans at Parc des Princes, moments before the season’s final home game against Metz. Mbappe says, “I’m very happy to continue this adventure, to stay in France, in Paris, my city.”

Also

Kelsey Plum scored 24 points, Jackie Young added 20 and Las Vegas (6-1) dominated the third quarter in a 100-80 WNBA victory over the Phoenix Mercury (2-4).

Adam Gaudette scored in overtime for the United States to beat Sweden 3-2 at the world ice hockey championship in Finland. The win improves the U.S. to 4-1 for the tournament.