San Diego State immediately made its presence felt at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California, where the Aztecs handed the No. 11 Missouri Tigers the first loss of their 2024 season.

The Aztecs (6-5) used a three-run opposite-field home run from junior Mac Barbara in the bottom of the third inning Thursday at Big League Dreams Cathedral City to open the scoring and give themselves enough of a cushion to pull off the upset. The game was played at BLD's Yankee Stadium.

• Subscribe To FloSoftball To Watch The 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
• San Diego State Softball Schedule 2024: What To Know
• THE Spring Games Division I Preview: What To Know
• 2024 USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top 25

The blast scored Micaela Marcario and Bella Espinoza, who reached on an error and infield single, respectively, with two outs in the inning.

Barbara now has three home runs on the season and moved into a tie for fourth place on the Aztecs’ career home run list. Lorena Bauer (2011-2013, 2015) tops the list with 60.

Missouri (10-1) chiseled away at the lead Thursday, scoring runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Tigers simply ran out of time. Oh, and they stranded nine runners in the game.

Missouri entered the contest with a 10-0 record, while San Diego State came in at 5-5. The win was the second victory of the year for the Aztecs against a ranked opponent. They defeated No. 25 Kentucky 2-1 on Feb. 10.

Of SDSU’s five losses in 2024, four have come by two runs or less.

Offensively, the Aztecs had just three hits in the win, while senior hurler Allie Light got the job done in the circle – twice. 

Light started the game for San Diego State and went four innings, before being replaced. She returned in the final inning to shut down the Tigers. 

Light (3-1) picked up the memorable win. In her five innings, she gave up four hits and one earned run, while walking one and striking out one Missouri batter. She also hit three batters in the game.

The loss Thursday went to senior right-hander Laurin Krings, who pitched all six innings for Missouri, while striking out seven.

Jenna Laird led the Missouri offense with two hits.

The Missouri Tigers already have covered some serious miles in 2024, and they had a perfect record (10-0) to show for it, having picked up five wins at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic in Florida and five victories at the Tracy Beard College Classic in Texas. 

It was the team’s best start since a 12-0 run to begin the 2009 season. The Tigers finished that year at 50-12.

San Diego State, on the other hand, had a potentially misleading 5-5 mark to start the new campaign. The Aztecs played nine of their first 10 games at their home stadium across two events – the SDSU Season Kickoff and the 33rd Annual Campbell/Cartier Classic. 

The remaining contest was a mid-week game (an 8-2 win) against crosstown foe San Diego. 

While at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Missouri will play five games (San Diego State, Wisconsin, Central Florida, CSU Fullerton and Baylor).

SDSU, which was picked to win the Mountain West Conference this season and landed in the No. 24 spot in the preseason USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll, will take the diamond four times (Missouri, Nebraska, Bethune Cookman and Oklahoma).

Thursday’s game between San Diego State and Missouri was the eighth meeting between the two teams, with Missouri leading the series 5-2. They last faced each other in February 2022, and the result was a 7-6 extra-inning victory for Missouri.

Follow all of the action live, as FloSoftball is providing news and notes from all of the games at the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Watch Thursday's Home Run By San Diego State's Mac Barbara

See Barbara's three-run blast against the Missouri Tigers:

Opposite field 3-run 💣 for @mac_softball31 @AztecSoftball leads Missouri, 3-0 👀

💻: @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/Hqo9LW3RwN

— Tara Henry (@notarabledays) February 23, 2024

San Diego State Defeats Missouri Softball 3-2 At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Box Score

San Diego State Hands Missouri Softball First Loss Of 2024 Season

San Diego State's Allie Light re-enters the game as the Aztecs' pitcher in the top of the seventh inning. She went four innings before being taken out of the game.

The Tigers stay alive with a two-out single by Kara Daly on a 2-2 pitch. 

Light gets Maddie Gallagher to ground out to first base to end the game. SDSU wins 3-2, with tying run stranded on base.

Missouri Defense Keeps San Diego State At Bay In Sixth Inning

The Missouri Tigers retired San Diego State in order in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Tigers 2-3-4 hitters are coming up for their final opportunity to get ahead.

Missouri Tigers Battling Back Against San Diego State Softball

Sophomore Kayley Lenger hits the first home run of her career to bring Missouri within a run of San Diego State. Aztecs lead 3-2.

A Mya Dodge single with two outs gets the Tigers back to the top of the order. Jenna Laird flies out to end the threat and the inning.

Missouri, Krings Hold Off SDSU In Bottom Of Fifth Inning

Missouri's Laurin Krings got her team off the field as quickly as she could, striking out one, while giving up a single. She has seven strikeouts in the game.

Missouri coming up. SDSU leads 3-1.

Missouri Scores One In Top Of Fifth Inning At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Madison Walker starts the top of the fifth inning with a base hit for Missouri. Claire Cahalan comes in to pinch run and advances to second base on a no-out walk by Mya Dodge. 

The walk is the end of the line for SDSU's Allie Light, who is replaced in the circle by junior left-hander Dee Dee Hernandez. 

A bunt single allows Missouri to load the bases with no outs.

An errant throw after a flyout allows Cahalan to score from third. SDSU leads 3-1.

Hernandez walks Kara Daly to load the bases again, this time with two outs. 

SDSU gets out of the inning, as Missouri leaves the bases loaded.

Missouri Tigers Slow Down San Diego State

Missouri's Laurin Krings retires the Aztecs in order in the top of the fifth inning.

SDSU still leads 3-0.

Missouri Threatens, Falls Short In Top Of Fourth Inning Against San Diego State

San Diego State's Allie Light has hit three batters in the game. She just hit Maddie Gallagher for the second time in four innings. Gallagher reaches base with one out.

Gallagher is thrown out at second base on a fielder's choice. Katie Chester reaches first base with two outs and is replaced by pinch runner Kayley Lenger.

Stefania Abruscato flies out to left field to end the inning.

SDSU leads 3-0.

San Diego State Softball Strikes First Against Missouri With Three-Run Blast

SDSU's Micaela Macario reaches base on an error by the Missouri shortstop with two outs and advances to second on an infield single by Bella Espinoza (the first hit of the game for San Diego State).

Junior Mac Barbara takes a 3-2 pitch to the opposite field for a three-run home run to break open the scoring. It's her third homer of the season and RBIs No. 14, 15 and 16 in 2024. 

Missouri's Krings gets out of the inning with another strikeout. All three outs in the inning were via strikeout, and she has six in the game. 

San Diego State leads 3-0.

Missouri Strands Two In Top Of Third Inning Against SDSU Softball

Missouri's Jenna Laird is hit by a pitch with one out, reaching base for the second time in the game. She advances to third on an infield single by Alex Honnold.

Allie Light gets out of the inning with a deep fly ball. Missouri strands two.

San Diego State Threatens, Unable To Score In Bottom Of Second Inning

San Diego State's Cali Decker is hit by a pitch to start the inning. Julie Holcomb comes in to run for her and advances to second, and then third, on back-to-back groundouts.

Krings ends the inning with a strikeout.

Nothing Happening For Missouri Softball In Second Inning Against San Diego State

Senior Maddie Gallagher is hit by a pitch with one out. She is the first batter hit by SDSU's Light this season.

Tigers unable to capitalize. Game still scoreless.

San Diego State Softball Quiet In First Inning Against Missouri Tigers

Senior Laurin Krings is in the circle for Missouri, and she retires the Aztecs in order in the bottom of the first inning, including two strikeouts.

Missouri Scoreless In Opening Inning Against San Diego State

Senior Jenna Laird opening the game for Missouri with a double, but she later was doubled off at second base to end the inning. 

It was the long way to three up, three down for the SDSU defense.

SDSU Lineup For Meeting With Missouri At 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

See who's starting for SDSU against the Missouri Tigers:

In action against No. 11/13 Missouri.

📊 https://t.co/0sIxSNZATx
💻 @FloSoftball pic.twitter.com/M2FCpMaIgX

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) February 23, 2024

San Diego State Softball And Missouri Underway At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

SDSU is the home team in this one, with senior Allie Light in the circle for the Aztecs.

Missouri Lineup For Meeting With San Diego State At Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

See who's starting for Missouri against SDSU:

Our starters to kick off the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic!

🔗https://t.co/hiVjhPYH5m#OwnIt #MIZ🐯🥎 pic.twitter.com/rorD5bvZJr

— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) February 23, 2024

When Is The San Diego State Vs. Missouri Softball Game?

San Diego State will take on Missouri at Yankee Stadium, part of Big League Dreams Cathedral City in Cathedral City, California, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

How To Watch The San Diego State Vs. Missouri Softball Game

Watch the 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on FloSoftball and the FloSports app.

FloSoftball is streaming several NCAA Division I college softball tournaments, including the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, THE Spring Games and the recent Candrea Classic.

About Big League Dreams Cathedral City

The Big League Dreams Sports Parks are scattered throughout the United States and provide recreational and tournament players of all ages the chance to compete on world-class fields, often built as replicas of famous stadiums from the storied history of Major League Baseball.

Along with the nostalgic fields, the Big League Dreams venues include a restaurant and bar, batting cages, play area for children, stadium seating and space for other sports (hockey, soccer, sand volleyball), events and competitions. 

Big League Dreams Cathedral City was the first of the eight BLD properties to open, doing so in 1998. The park includes five fields. Among them, Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and New York’s Yankee Stadium.

Check Out Some Highlights From Missouri Softball's Recent Visit To Texas

The Missouri Tigers opened their season with trips to Florida and Texas. See how things went in the Lone Star State:

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀. #OwnIt #MIZ 🐯🥎 pic.twitter.com/SVlNOoPFGj

— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) February 20, 2024

This And That: San Diego State Aztecs Softball

• San Diego State was 39-17 last season, including a 2-3 performance at the 2023 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Aztecs season ended against Utah at the NCAA Salt Lake City Super Regional.
• The Aztecs were picked to win the Mountain West Conference, while Mac Barbara (player) and Allie Light (pitcher) were picked as the Mountain West Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year.
• Barbara, a junior, is one home run from moving into a tie for fourth place on the Aztecs’ all-time list. She’s at 33 after notching two this season. Lorena Bauer (2011-2013, 2015) tops the list with 60.

This And That: Missouri Tigers Softball

• Missouri is looking to reach the NCAA Tournament for the 17th consecutive time.
• The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in four of their 10 games this season.
• Missouri was 35-26 overall in 2023 and just 7-17 in the loaded Southeastern Conference.
• Last year at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Missouri posted a 3-2 record.

USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll

The latest USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll came out this week, and Oklahoma continues its stranglehold on the top spot.

The Sooners, who entered the 2024 on a 53-game winning streak, are 9-0 to start the new campaign.

Missouri landed in the No. 11 spot on this poll, while San Diego State settled into the “others receiving votes” category.

Click HERE to see the complete rankings. 

2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Schedule

All times Eastern

Thursday, Feb. 22

Wrigley Field

• Rutgers vs. Hawaii, 3 p.m.
• Oregon vs. Central Florida, 5:30 p.m.
• Oregon vs. Baylor, 8 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Baylor 10:30 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Bethune Cookman vs. BYU, 3 p.m.
• Bethune Cookman vs. Oregon State, 5:30 p.m.
• San Diego State vs. Missouri, 8 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Missouri, 10:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Oregon State vs. Wisconsin 2:30 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Mississippi State, 5 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Rutgers 7:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. BYU 10 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Mississippi State vs. Central Florida 2 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23

Wrigley Field

• San Diego State vs. Nebraska, 1 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Northwestern, 6 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State, 8:30 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. Wisconsin, 11 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Hawaii vs. Fresno State, 1:30 p.m.
• Hawaii vs. California, 4 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Oregon, 6:30 p.m.
• Long Beach State vs. Oregon, 9 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. Oregon State, 11:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Rutgers vs. Loyola Marymount, 1 p.m.
• Tennessee vs. Loyola Marymount, 3:30 p.m.
• Tennessee vs. CSU Fullerton, 6 p.m.
• Missouri vs. Central Florida, 8:30 p.m.
• Missouri vs. CSU Fullerton, 11 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Seattle University vs. CSU Northridge, 1 p.m.
• Utah vs. CSU Northridge, 3:30 p.m.
• Bethune Cookman vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. Wisconsin, 8:30 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. Utah, 11 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• Illinois vs. California, 1:30 p.m.
• Cal Poly vs. Rutgers, 3 p.m.
• Long Beach State vs. BYU, 6:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Seattle, 9 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Baylor, 11:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24

Wrigley Field

• Oregon vs. Nebraska, 1 p.m.
• Oklahoma vs. San Diego State, 3:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Illinois, 6 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Baylor, 8:30 p.m.
• Missouri vs. Baylor, 11 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Seattle vs. California, 12:30 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Notre Dame, 3 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Tennessee, 5:30 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. Tennessee, 8 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. University of San Diego, 10:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Northwestern vs. Loyola Marymount, 10 a.m.
• Northwestern vs. University of San Diego, 3:30 p.m.
• Notre Dame vs. Utah, 6 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Utah, 8:30 p.m.
• Rutgers vs. BYU 11 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Cal vs. Illinois, 12:30 p.m.
• CSU Fullerton vs. Utah, 3 p.m.
• CSU Fullerton vs. Mississippi State, 5:30 p.m.
• Cal Poly vs. BYU, 8 p.m.
• Mississippi State vs. Fresno State, 10:30 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• CSU Northridge vs. Bethune Cookman, 12:30 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Long Beach State, 3 p.m.
• CSU Northridge vs. Rutgers, 2:30 p.m.
• Loyola Marymount vs. Bethune Cookman 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Wrigley Field

• Seattle vs. Oklahoma, noon
• Loyola Marymount vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Nebraska vs. Utah, noon
• Nebraska vs. CSU Fullerton, 2:30 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. UC Riverside, 5 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Oregon State vs. Northwestern, noon
• Tennessee vs. Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.
• Fresno State vs. Cal Poly, 5 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Illinois vs. Hawaii, 11:30 a.m.
• Fresno State vs. Long Beach State, 2:30 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• California vs. Long Beach State, noon
• California vs. Cal Poly, 2:30 p.m.

Who Was Mary Nutter?

Mary Nutter was an All-American softball player and a pioneer in the sport. 

She was a coach at Pittsburgh State and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997.

Nutter died in 2012. 

Watch 2024 College Softball On FloSoftball

FloSoftball is your home to some of the top college softball tournaments in the country, as well as conference softball games from a varsity of conferences. Some of the tournaments streaming live on FloSoftball include: 

• Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
• 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
• 2024 FAU Paradise Classic
• 2024 Elon Phoenix Tournament
• 2024 Candrea Classic
• 2024 Mark Campbell Collegiate Invitational
• 2024 THE Spring Games Opening Weekend

FloSoftball Archived Footage

Video footage from past seasons is archived and stored in a video library for FloSoftball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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