March 15, 2014
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State University softball team exploded for 10 runs in the final two innings of a 10-6 win over Princeton on Saturday.
The Tigers (1-7) held the Spartans (14-11) scoreless for four innings. But with the bases loaded in the fifth, the Spartans' fourth batter of the inning, Sharon-Renae Estrada flied out to centerfield to push across Michelle Cox. A second sacrifice fly, by Erin Rodriguez, Casey Watt's long single to left field and doubles by Brittanie Akey and Alyssa Martinez scored five more runners to knot the score, 6-6.
San José State continued to put up runs on the board in the sixth inning. Estrada's well-placed hit up the middle plated Jessie Hufstetler, and a Rodriguez single drove in Nicole Schultz. Michelle Cox and Rodriguez took advantage of Princeton bobbles, both scoring on wild pitches, for the final 10-6 score.
A key to the Spartans' success in the game was the team's ability to move the ball well with runners in scoring position. In the six-run fifth, the team was 4-for- 5 and drove in five runs with Spartans on second or third base.
On the day, Casey Watt went 3-for-4, with a run scored and an RBI. Devin Caldwell had multiple hits for the second-straight game, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run. Sharon-Renae Estrada and Erin Rodriguez also batted .666 (2-for-3).
Katelyn Linford's record improved to 5-5 on the season, pitching 1.2 shutout innings and scattering three hits with two strikeouts. The Spartans' first two pitchers of the game, Madison Fish and Allison Lang, combined in 5.1 innings to scatter eight hits and allow five earned runs.
San José State faces Princeton again tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.
San Jose State 10, Princeton 6 (Mar 15, 2014 at San Jose, Calif.)
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Princeton........... 111 120 0 - 6 11 3 (1-7)
San Jose State...... 000 064 X - 10 11 3 (14-11)
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Pitchers: Princeton - Christian, Shanna; Klausner, Claire(5); Nori, Erica(6) and Cousens, Maddie
. San Jose State - Fish, Madison; LANG, Allison(2); LINFORD, Katelyn(6) and Garcia, Jessica.
Win-LINFORD, Katelyn(5-5) Loss-Christian, Shanna(1-3)
Christian faced 3 batters in the 5th.