SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (3-14, 0-0 WCC) returns to action after a week-long break to co-host the San Diego Classic with San Diego State this weekend.
 
Friday through Saturday will be hosted at the SDSU Softball Stadium, while all games on Sunday will be hosted at the USD Softball Complex.   
 
The Toreros will face the Aztecs (10-5, 0-0 Mountain West) on Friday at 4:30 p.m., followed by Montana (0-15, 0-0 Big Sky) at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Toreros will face Montana again at San Diego State at 5:30 p.m., before hosting Boston University (11-3, 0-0 Patriot) on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
 
HOME SCHEDULE (SUNDAY)

• San Diego State vs. Montana – 10 a.m.
• San Diego State vs. Boston University – 12:30 p.m.
• San Diego vs. Boston University – 3:30 p.m.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Toreros were initially scheduled to face California Baptist on Wednesday night, but the game was postponed due to rain and field conditions.
• Prior to Wednesday, San Diego wrapped up play at the Mary Nutter Classic, where they went 1-4 overall at the highly competitive annual event.
• The Toreros offense exploded in a win over Portland State, winning a 12-1, run rule decision in five innings over the Vikings. The output was the most runs scored in a single game by the program since 2019.
• Courtney Rose was stellar, going 0-1 with a 0.43 ERA (16.1 IP) and limited No. 19 Northwestern to just four hits. The redshirt junior went on to earn WCC Pitcher of the Week honors.

 
OPPONENT HISTORY

• San Diego matches up with San Diego State for the 53rd time, trailing 6-46. However, the series has been tight in recent years, with the Aztecs leading just 5-3 over the last eight games.
• The Toreros will resume their all-time series with Montana for the first time since 2015 and are 1-1 overall against the Grizzlies.
• The Toreros will matchup with the Terriers for the third time and trail 0-2 in the all-time series.

 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Toreros are beginning a stretch of 17 of their next 19 games at home or in the city of San Diego. Most are at the USD Softball Complex, with the additional three at San Diego State this weekend.
• San Diego has already played in seven games separated by one run this season, with several additional games featuring late-game, high leverage situations.
• Freshman EJ Joyner has emerged into a key power hitting role, ranking third in the WCC in home runs and slugging .412.
• Arisa Tovar went on a scorching run at the Mary Nutter Classic, hitting .417 with one home run and five RBI. Tovar has now taken over the team RBI lead with seven and has elevated her batting average to .300.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Madison Earnshaw (274) sits in eighth all-time in strikeouts at San Diego and needs eight more to pass Jade Quentin (281) for seventh.
• Earnshaw also recently moved into a tie for eighth with Quentin in pitching appearances at San Diego with 96. She is closing in on becoming the seventh Torero with 100 appearances in the circle.
• Savannah Alarcon (99) is one game away from 100 in her collegiate career.
• Taylor Johnson continues to draw hit-by-pitches at an enormous rate, ranking fifth in the nation and first in the WCC in hit-by-pitches per game (0.53). Johnson has been hit nine times, which is already the most by any Torero since 2016.

 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday's game against San Diego State will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network. Live stats for all games will be provided by statbroadcast. To stay up to date with Toreros softball, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDsoftball".