Softball Season Ends In Loss To New Mexico State

Fresno, Calif. - San Jose State give up two runs in the first inning, three in the second and could not make the deficit up as they were out hit 11 to five by the New Mexico State Aggies in the second round of the Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament at Bulldog Diamond on Thursday, May 7.  The loss ends the Spartans season with a 19-37 record and a sixth place finish in the conference.

Starter Amanda Pridmore went 5.2 innings giving up all six runs, five earned while striking out four.

In the first, the Aggies scored two run on three hits. The big hits were an RBI single by Hoku Nohara and an RBI double by Ashely Maroda.

In the second, New Mexico State banged out five hits, all singles, in scoring three runs.  The RBI’s came from Tiare Jennings, Nohara and Angie Ortega.  After two complete the Aggies had a 5-0 lead.

The Spartans went in order in the first three innings and got their first hit in the fourth.  Nicole Wells hit a single that dropped into short center.  Alyssa Sulay pinch ran for Wells and got to second on a throwing error by the Aggies catcher Ali Baumhover.  Baumhover tried to pick of Sulay at first and threw the ball into right field.  With two outs, the Spartans had their first scoring opportunity, but a strike out ended the threat.

In the fifth, Kayla Hayes led off with a single to right and one out later Julianne Aiello doubled to center to set the Spartans up with two in scoring position.  For the second inning in a row the San Jose State could not take advantage of the situation.  A ground out and infield pop up ended the inning.

In the top of the sixth the Spartans finally broke through.  Sarah Taylor reach base on a throwing error by the Aggies pitcher.  One out later, Kelli Fangonilo ripped a double to left center.  

Taylor scored all the way from first and cut the lead to 5-1.  A ground out got Fangonilo, who for the tournament was 5-for-7 and had three of the teams five RBI, to third, but a pop foul ended the inning.

New Mexico State got the run back in the bottom of the sixth and won the game 6-1.

San Jose State    000  001  0  --  1  5  3
New Mexico State    230  001  x  --  6  11  2

Pridmore, Fox(6) and Fitzgerald, Schatz(4), B. Lopez(6).  Watson and Baumhover.  WP Watson (21-13).  LP Pridmore (8-13).  2B Maroda (NMSU); Fangonilo, Aiello (SJSU).  4 Hits Nohara (NMSU).  2 Hits Ortega (NMSU).  3 RBI Nohara (NMSU).  Records San Jose State (19-37)  New Mexico State (33-20)