San Antonio, Calif. – Despite a four-run lead going in to the final inning, the San Jose State University softball team saw its 10-game winning streak snapped by a walk-off two-run single in a 7-6 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) loss to UTSA on Friday.
It was the Spartans’ first WAC loss of the season, and first loss since March 14.
“You can never have enough runs until you get the final run,” Head Coach Peter Turner said. “We did not prevent that loss from happening from the start of the game.”
UTSA (19-12, 4-0 WAC) got on the scoreboard first, in the third inning. Darian Blake doubled and Paige Hamilton, on base as a result of a fielder's choice, sprinted around the bases and, knocking over second baseman Devin Caldwell, who was ruled to be interfering with Blake's base running, scored for the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans (24-11, 3-1 WAC) answered in the fourth inning. Leadoff hitter Markesha Collins blasted a solo homer to tie the game at one, which Michelle Cox followed with a triple. Jessie Hufstetler drove her in with a double to left field to give San Jose State its first lead of the game, at 2-1.
San Jose State tacked on another two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings, and went in to the bottom of the seventh with a 6-2 lead.
However, the Roadrunners’ bats caught fire in the seventh. With three runs scored off of five hits, Amanda Pridmore threw a bases-loading walk. But reigning WAC Hitter of the Week, Vivian Tijerina, batting eighth in the order, got the walk-off two-run single for the 7-6 win.
“Those are difficult losses but we were not good enough to give them the opportunities we gave," Turner said. "Today, UTSA deserved to win. I can make excuses about some questionable calls but at the end of the day, we need to play better ball and do a better job up and down to beat teams."
Collins, Cox and Vanessa House, batting in the top-three spots in the order, scored and drove in four of the Spartans’ six runs, and hit four of San Jose State’s seven total hits.
Amanda Pridmore (15-8) took the complete game loss, scattering 10 hits, walking two and striking out five. UTSA pitchers Haylee Staton and Jolene Graham combined for three strikeouts, while allowing seven hits.
San Jose State begins its double header against the Roadrunners tomorrow, March 30, at 2:00 p.m. (PDT).
UTSA 7, San Jose State 6 (Mar 29, 2013 at San Antonio, Texas)
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San Jose State...... 000 202 2 - 6 7 2 (24-11, 3-1 WAC)
UTSA................ 001 001 5 - 7 10 1 (19-12, 4-0 WAC)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Pridmore, Amanda and Garcia, Jessica. UTSA - Staton; Graham(7) and Low.
Win-Graham(3-3) Loss-Pridmore, Amanda(15-8)
HR SJSU - Collins, Markesha (6).