March 1, 2014
Final Stats - Washington
Final Stats - UTEP
Stockton, Calif. - The San José State University softball team split a doubleheader during their only day at the Libby Matson Tournament, hosted by the University of the Pacific, on Saturday. The Spartans fell to No. 7/7 Washington, 1-0, in the opening game, but beat UTEP, 10-8.
Against UTEP (6-12), the Spartans (11-6) scored all 10 of its runs in the first three innings.
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Sharon-Renae Estrada drew a bases-loaded walk for the San José State's first run of the game.
In the next inning, with the bases loaded, Michelle Cox grounded out to second base and scored Kryn Masutani. Back-to-back singles by Jessie Hufstetler and Jessica Garcia plated Jessie Meyer and Devin Caldwell. Hufstetler rounded the bases in the next at-bat on Alyssa Martinez's sacrifice fly for the 5-2 lead after two innings.
In the third inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Hufstetler made her first career triple a memorable one, driving in three runners on the hard hit ball to left field. Three-straight singles by Garcia, Martinez and Estrada followed, allowing Hufstetler and Garcia to cross home plate for the 10-2 lead after three innings.
"Hufstetler has been squaring up all year," head coach Peter Turner said. "Both she and Jessica Garcia have been driving in runs, and it's as if they're waiting for those moments to have great at bats."
The Miners put up six runs combined in the fifth and six innings, but were unable to match San José State.
Katelyn Linford improved her record to 3-2. In five innings of work, she scattered seven hits and allowed three runs. Her six strikeouts were the most recorded by any Spartan this season.
"She had great stuff today," Turner said. "The process of being a freshman is not easy. You learn lessons along the way. Overall, she has good movement and as she gets more mature, she'll get better command. I'm happy with her progress."
Berlyn Rippentrop notched the first save of her career, allowing one hit in the game's final 1.1 innings.
"We needed to use her strengths and she came in and got the outs we needed," Turner said of the sophomore. "I was happy with her performance. I like her coming out of the bullpen because she has a demeanor that works."
In five innings, Taylor Grohmann (2-3) scattered 10 of the San José State's 13 hits and allowed seven earned runs. Neither she nor reliever Kaitlin Fifield struck out a Spartan, just the second time no Spartan was fanned at the plate.
Three Spartans recorded two hits: Hufstetler (2-for-2 with four RBI), Garcia (2-for-4 with two RBI) and Michelle Cox (2-for-4 with one RBI).
San José State's first game of the day, against No.7/7 Washington (14-2), was scoreless through six-and-a-half innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies got the only run they needed for the win. With runners on first and second, Kaitlin Iglesby knocked the ball to left field, plating Courtney Gano for the 1-0 final score.
San José State's best chance to score came in the third inning. With Caldwell on second after singling and stealing the base, Hufstetler hit the ball deep in to center field. But the Huskies defense stifled the threat, with the centerfielder firing the ball to catcher Gano in time to tag out Caldwell.
Said Turner of the game, "Washington made good plays at the plate and we didn't. When you get in to a one-out game, it becomes about execution and we didn't execute."
Caldwell led San José State at the plate, going 2-for 4.
Allison Lang (6-2) suffered the loss for the Spartans, allowing seven hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. Rippentrop pitched a perfect 0.1 inning in relief.
Bryana Walker (9-1) pitched 2.0 shutout innings and scattered two hits for the win.
Next weekend, the Spartans travel south to the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., where the team faces three nationally-ranked teams: No. 16 Nebraska, No. 10 Arizona and No. 3 Arizona State. "We have a big weekend ahead of us. It'll be a challenge but I feel it's one we can take on."
GAME ONE
WASHINGTON 1, San Jose State 0 (Mar 01, 2014 at Stockton, Calif.)
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San Jose State...... 000 000 0 - 0 8 1 (10-6)
WASHINGTON.......... 000 001 X - 1 7 0 (14-2)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Lang, Allison; RIPPENTROP, Berlyn(6) and Garcia, Jessica.
WASHINGTON - Inglesby; Walker(6) and Gano.
Win-Walker(9-1) Loss-LANG, Allison(6-2)
GAME TWO
San Jose State 10, UTEP 8 (Mar 01, 2014 at Stockton, Calif.)
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UTEP................ 200 015 0 - 8 13 0 (6-12)
San Jose State...... 145 000 X - 10 13 1 (11-6)
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Pitchers: UTEP - Fifield, K; Grohmann, T(2) and . San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn;
FISH, Madison(6); LANG, Allison(6); RIPPENTROP, Berlyn(6) and Garcia, Jessica.
Win-LINFORD, Katelyn(3-2) Save-RIPPENTROP, Berlyn(1) Loss-Grohmann, T(2-3)