Fresno, Calif. In the opening game of the Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, the #6 San Jose State Spartans took a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning, but could not make it stand up and fell to the #7 Boise State Broncos, 8-4, in nine innings at Bulldog Diamond. The loss leaves the Spartans record at 19-36.
Boise State picked up an unearned run in the top of the first after loading the bases with two outs. Kelly Sweeney, who would drive in four runs on the day, hit an RBI single to left giving the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans evened the score in the bottom of the third. Sarah Taylor, who was named Second Team All-WAC earlier in the day, singled to center and stole second. Nicole Wells then singled moving Taylor to third. Kelli Fangonilo hit a sacrifice fly to left plating Taylor and tying the score at, 1-1.
In the bottom of the fourth Kayla Hayes led off and pulled a 1-1 pitch down the right field line for her second home run of the season giving the Spartans a 2-1 advantage.
San Jose State starting pitcher Amanda Pridmore, cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits and the one unearned run, but in the sixth Boise State got three runs on four hits and one Spartan error giving the Broncos a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hayes led off and reach base on a Boise State error, advancing to second on the play. Two batters later a ground out moved Hayes to third. Krysha Fitzgerald, then got an infield single scoring Hayes and cutting the Broncos lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wells got a one out double, followed by a Fangonilo RBI-single to right center tying the game at 4-4. Mallory Bair singled, and after a wild pitch, Fangonilo was on third and Bair on second. Designated player Deanna Mauer then walked to load the bases with two outs, but an infield pop up ended the threat and for the third game in a row the Spartans were going to extra innings.
Neither team scored in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, Boise State scored four runs on four hit and three San Jose State errors. The crucial hit was a one out bases loaded single by Sweeney. Hayes committed a fielding error allowing the bases to be cleared and giving the Broncos a, 7-4 lead. They would add one more and take an, 8-4, advantage to the bottom of the ninth.
The Spartans got successive one-out singles, but could not push any runs across and fell, 8-4.
Pridmore went eight innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs, two earned. Elyssa Fox (5-16) pitched the ninth and took the loss giving up four hits, four runs, only one was earned.
The Spartans offense was led by Fangonilo (4-for-4, 2 RBI), Fitzgerald (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and Hayes (1-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 R).
San Jose State continues play in the WAC Softball Tournament on Thursday, May 7. They will play the loser of the Nevada vs. New Mexico State game. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and will be available on live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com.
Boise State 100 003 004 - 8 14 2
San Jose State 001 101 100 - 4 13 7
Zell and Stratton. Pridmore, Fox(9) and Fitzgerald. WP Zell (13-8). Fox (5-16). HR Hayes (SJSU). 2B Fangonilo, Wells (SJSU). 4 Hits Fangonilo (SJSU). 3 Hits Sweeney (BSU). 2 Hits Weatherly, Cox, Caplan (BSU); Wells, Bair, Fitzgerald (SJSU). 4 RBI Sweeney (BSU). 2 RBI Fangonilo (SJSU). Records Boise State (22-28) San Jose State (19-36)
Softball Falls In Nine Innings At WAC Tournament Opener
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