AZTECS EXCITED FOR NCAAS
As a fifth-year senior, San Diego State's Taylor Adams will experience a flurry of emotions when the team takes the field against LSU today in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament in Tempe, Arizona.The Aztecs have made the tournament 12 times since 2001 but this is their first appearance since 2015, and Adams and her teammates will all be making their tournament debut in a game against a traditional power on national TV.
“It's beyond exciting to be on such a big stage,” said Adams, who batted .352 with four homers and 21 RBIs this season. “I've been here five years working to get to this point and not having had this opportunity before, I want us to really take advantage of it. We've had plenty of talent but this year, we put it together. We're like a family and that connection showed on the field. We are ready for this.”
The Aztecs finished 37-14 overall and 20-4 in the Mountain West to claim the conference's lone tournament slot.
They also cleaned up on postseason awards as Stacey Nuveman Deniz was named Mountain West Coach of the Year, Mac Barbara MW Player of the Year and Maggie Balint MW Pitcher of the Year.
The reward was the No. 3 seed and a matchup with the No. 2 seeded Tigers (34-21) who come out of the ultrastrong SEC, which placed 12 teams in the 64-team NCAA Tournament field.
The double-elimination Tempe regional also includes No. 1 seed Arizona State (39-9) and No. 4 seed Cal State Fullerton (36-20), and according to NCAA RPI, it's the toughest of the 16 regionals.
The 16 winning teams advance to the super regionals,
which will be held May 26-29 on eight campus sites.
At each site, two teams play in a best-of-three tournament format.
Nuveman Deniz is in her first season guiding the Aztecs after working 14 seasons under Kathy Van Wyk and is familiar with the gauntlet presented by the tournament format, having led UCLA to the 1999 National Championship.
“We go into this thinking that Game 1 is a must-win,” Nuveman Deniz said. “To lose that first game really makes it tough so we have to really go for it and we will.”
Having Balint on the mound won't hurt the Aztecs' chances. The senior went 18-5 with a 1.50 ERA with 263 strikeouts against 35 walks this season and has a nasty weapon in a rise-ball pitch which often fools hitters with late upward movement.
“On a good day, Maggie can beat anyone in the country,”
Nuveman Deniz said. “Not to say that all the pressure is on her — we obviously have to score runs — but it's reassuring knowing how good she can be.”
Balint and her teammates saw plenty of LSU this season either with scouting videos or with the numerous times the Tigers appeared on national television and have a good feeling for what to expect.
“They see a ton of top competition given where they play so we know they are dangerous, but we will be ready,” Balint said “My approach is to limit their chances. If they get a single, nip it in the bud. Big hit, nip it in the bud. Limit big innings. And we know we will be at altitude so there is a chance the ball will be flying. But our team shows up for big games. We're anxious to show that we belong here because we do.”