Two weeks into the 2025 college softball season, San Diego State travelled to the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational in Florida, defeated two nationally ranked powers while going 5-0 and returned home ranked in the top-25 poll.
The reaction of Aztec head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz: “Is that too much, too soon?”
The answer: Yes.
After a 13-3 start, the Aztecs lost five straight to tumble out of the national rankings.
“We started out on a high note,” said Nuveman Deniz. “It was a very nice run in Clearwater. But we came home and hit a road bump. We had to work through some team dynamics. Some of our lineup positioning didn’t work.”
Said pitcher Cece Cellura: “When we got close to conference play, our game fell off a bit. I think we were timid as a team. Then everyone got back on the same page. We’re going out, having fun and being ourselves.”
The Aztecs are on a roll as the regular season wraps up. They swept a three-game series from UNLV last weekend to stretch their current winning streak to four straight games. They are 6-2 over the last eight games and 10-4 over the last 14 to climb back to within a half game of leader Nevada in the Mountain West race.
The Aztecs are 27-14 overall and 11-4 in conference.
“I feel good about where we are right now,” said Nuveman Deniz.
And things could be getting much better.
SDSU plays three games at Boise State this weekend, then closes out the regular season with six straight home games before hosting the Mountain West Tournament May 7-10.
Now in her fourth season, Nuveman Deniz has a 136-67 record. The Aztecs have won one Mountain West regular-season title and three MW Tournaments, appearing in three NCAA Regionals and advancing to the Super Regionals in 2023.
“Our goal is always to be playing our best late in the season,” said Nuveman Deniz. “We’re on that path again. One of the things we stress is balance. There are points in the season where offense, pitching or defense carry the team.”
The Aztecs have strengths in each area.
Cellura, a sophomore, is 11-6 with two saves, a 2.52 earned run average and a 1.10 WHIP. Pitcher/right fielder Grace Uribe, a senior, is 7-0 with a 2.97 ERA, and a 1.32 WHIP. Senior Dee Dee Hernandez is 6-7 with four saves and a 4.97 ERA and freshman Ana Schaffel is 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA.
Senior catcher Cali Decker leads the balanced offense with a .385 batting average (45-for-117) with 14 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 29 walks for a .490 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage for a 1.114 OPS.
Five regulars are hitting better than .300. Uribe and Shannon Cunningham pace the Aztecs with six home runs apiece. Cunningham’s 30 RBIs tops Decker by one atop Aztec charts while Uribe and Steele Canyon High product Jazmin Williams are tied for second at 22.
Williams, one of seven of the team who transferred in, believes the strength of San Diego State softball is the “family” that refer to as “the tribe.”
“Coming out of high school, I went to Cal State Fullerton,” Williams explained. “I’m glad I did go away because it taught me a lot. But softball at Fullerton was more like a business. I came here because I wanted to be closer to home so my family and friends could watch me play. And I found a second family here.
“The feeling is a little hard to explain. I feel like I’m part of something bigger than me here.”
Williams was named the Mountain West Player of the Week last week after going 5-for-8 with two home runs against UNLV. The sophomore is hitting .313 with a .883 OPS.
“Jazmin is truly a unicorn,” said Nuveman Deniz. “She is fast, powerful and can play infield and the outfield. Over the last three weeks, she flipped the switch.”
Uribe left Texas A&M for SDSU for a chance to pitch as well as hit while playing closer to her Huntington Beach home.
Cellura also chose San Diego State with the thought of playing close to her Glendale home.
“Cece’s in a great place,” said Nuveman Deniz. “She’s been consistent and has a little fire in her.”
Other key Aztecs include: Senior left fielder Bella Espinoza (.356 with 17 stolen bases); junior first baseman Angie Yellen (.295 and three homers); freshman shortstop Quinn Waiki (.282), junior catcher/DH Jade Ignacio (.867 OPS); and sophomore center fielder Juli Holcomb (.333 avg.).
Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email [email protected].
