San Diego State emerged as one of the surprises of the 2023 college softball season. There's nothing unexpected if the Aztecs make noise in 2024. 

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Building off a historic campaign, San Diego State embarks on a season with lofty expectations and plenty of tests. The Aztecs make the short trek to the Coachella Valley for the Mary Nutter Classic, where they'll take on some of the nation's best. 

Get to know more about San Diego State softball before the Aztecs take on 2024. 

How Did San Diego State Softball Do In 2023?

San Diego State reached the Super Regional round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament and finished with a 39-17 overall record. 

The Aztecs earned their way into the NCAA Tournament with a dominant showing at the Mountain West Conference Tournament, rallying from a three-game slump at the end of the regular season to roll through the field in three games. 

San Diego State rode that momentum into the Los Angeles Regional, where the Aztecs dispatched Liberty and Grand Canyon in three games, going the first two without surrendering a run. 

Who Coaches San Diego State Softball? 

Stacey Nuveman-Deniz is San Diego State softball's head coach. She is headed into her third year at Montezuma Mesa after guiding the program to unprecedented heights in her second campaign. 

Nuveman-Deniz, a legendary player at UCLA at the turn of the millennium, ascended to the head-coaching position after serving as an assistant to Kathy Van Wyk. Nuveman-Deniz was first a San Diego State assistant in 2008. 

Has San Diego State Ever Won The Women’s College World Series?

No, San Diego State has never won the Women's College World Series. Last season's run to the Super Regional was the closet the Aztecs have come to reaching the Women's College World Series, coming one win away in their matchup with Utah. 

Before 2023, San Diego State appeared in 12 NCAA Tournaments, all since 2001 and never advancing past the Regional round. 

Notable Returning Players 

Mac Barbara, Util. 

Since transferring to San Diego State from Ole Miss ahead of the 2022 season, Mac Barbara has made an indelible mark on Aztecs softball. 

She was one of the nation's best hitters with runners in scoring position in 2022, thanks in part to her powerful, home-run swing. 

After hitting 18 home runs in 2022 en route to winning Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, Barbara returned to knock out 13 in 2023. She's an All-American and one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. 

Allie Light, P 

The 2023 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Allie Light went 15-7 with a 2.44 ERA, 106 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .218 over 132 2/3 innings pitched. 

Light finished the season strong, including a six-strikeout showing against Liberty in the Los Angeles Regional; 6 1/3 innings of work and the win to send the Aztecs to the Super Regional. She held Utah to one run in San Diego State's Super Regional win. 

Notable Newcomers

Micaela Macario, INF 

A local star returns to San Diego County with Micaela Macario's transfer to San Diego from UCF. The alumna of Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista was the American Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year in 2022. 

In 2023, Macario hit .308 in 107 at-bats and went 5-of-5 on stolen-base attempts. 

Alyssa Garcia, Util./C 

UCLA transfer Alyssa Garcia brings versatility to San Diego State. The former All-Freshman Pac-12 honoree can play catcher or first base effectively, and in 2021 and 2022 was a consistent hitter for the Bruins. In 2022, she hit .333 in 93 at-bats and produced a .441 slugging percentage. 

San Diego State Softball Schedule 2024

All times Pacific

2024 San Diego State Softball Roster

How To Watch The 2024 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

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

FloSoftball will be streaming several NCAA Division I college softball tournaments, including the THE Spring Games.

Mary Nutter Softball Tournament Schedule 

All times Eastern

Feb. 22

Wrigley Field

• Rutgers vs. Hawaii, 3 p.m.
• Rutgers vs. BYU, 5:30 p.m.
• Oregon vs. Central Florida, 8 p.m.
• Oregon 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.
• Central Florida vs. Mississippi State, 5 p.m.
• Baylor vs. Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
• Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame, 10 p.m.

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

• Cal Poly vs. California, 1 p.m.
• Cal Poly vs. Utah, 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. CSU Northridge, 1:30 p.m.
• Seattle University vs. CSU Northridge, 4 p.m.
• Long Beach State vs. BYU, 6:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Rutgers, 9 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Baylor, 11:30 p.m.

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

• Illinois vs. Hawaii, 10:30 a.m.
• Oregon State vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m.
• Oregon State vs. Tennessee, 2:30 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.
• Central Florida vs. University of San Diego, 7:30 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Bethune Cookman vs. Loyola Marymount, 10 a.m.
• Northwestern vs. Loyola Marymount, 12:30 p.m.
• Northwestern vs. University of San Diego, 3 p.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Utah, 5:30 p.m.
• Rutgers vs. Cal Poly, 8 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• Cal vs. Seattle University, 10:30 a.m.
• Utah vs. Seattle University, 1 p.m.
• Mississippi State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m.
• CSU Northridge vs. Rutgers, 6 p.m.
• CSU Fullerton vs. Mississippi State, 8:30 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• Fresno State vs. Long Beach State, 10:30 a.m.
• Wisconsin vs. Long Beach State, 12 p.m.
• CSU Northridge vs. Bethune Cookman, 2:30 p.m.
• BYU vs. Cal Poly, 5 p.m.
• BYU vs. UC Riverside, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 25

Wrigley Field

• Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma, 12 p.m.
• Loyola Marymount vs. Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
• UCLA vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m.

Yankee Stadium

• Nebraska vs. Utah, 12 p.m.
• Nebraska vs. CSU Fullerton, 2:30 p.m.
• University of San Diego vs. UC Riverside, 5 p.m.

Fenway Park

• Oregon State vs. Northwestern, 12 p.m.
• Tennessee vs. Hawaii, 2:30 p.m.
• Fresno State vs. Cal Poly, 5 p.m.

Des Moines Field

• CSU Fullerton vs. Seattle University, 4:30 p.m.
• UC Riverside vs. Seattle University, 7 p.m.

Pawtucket Field

• California vs. Illinois, 12 p.m.
• California vs. Long Beach State, 2:30 p.m.

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