March 23, 2014
Box Score - UC Santa Barbara
Box Score - Long Beach State
San Diego, Calif. - Solid pitching helped the San José State University softball team to a 6-3 win over UC Santa Barbara. But the Spartans couldn't counteract a four-run seventh by Long Beach State, falling, 9-6, to the 49ers and splitting its final day of the University of San Diego Tournament on Sunday.
San José State finishes the University of San Diego Tournament, its final tournament before beginning Mountain West play, 2-2.
In the Spartans' opening game, against UC Santa Barbara, Michelle Cox got the team's groundout run in the first to put San José State on the board. But the Gauchos (20-7) scored one run each in the first, second and fourth innings for a 3-1 lead after four.
But the Spartans (17-13) took over the lead in the bottom of the frame. Jessie Hufstetler was hit by a pitch, allowing Devin Caldwell to score. In the next at bat, Estrada knocked a double to right center, driving in Jessica Garcia and Cox to take the 4-3 lead.
San José State built on that advantage in the sixth. With Casey Watt on first after hitting a leadoff single, Kryn Masutani blasted a triple to drive in the sophomore. Caldwell's sacrifice fly two batters later scored Masutani for the 6-3 score.
Fish retired the Gauchos' final three batters to earn her fourth win of the season.
Fish (4-1), lifted for starter Allison Lang with two outs in the fourth, was a major reason for San José State's victory. She two-hit 3.1 shutout innings in relief, fanning three batters.
High-scoring innings highlighted San José State's game against Long Beach State (22-9) in their second game of the day.
With the bases loaded in the second, Michelle Cox drew a walk for the Spartans' 1-0 run.
In the next frame, Long Beach State (22-9) hit a leadoff triple, and an ensuing walk and fielder's choice tied the game, 1-1.
The Spartans were trailing, 5-1, heading in to the sixth after a four-run fourth by the 49ers. But San José State showed they weren't willing to go down without a fight.
Two quick outs started the inning. But Nicole Schultz, pinch running Colette Riggs, sprinted from second to score on a Caldwell single. Cox followed the single with one of her own, scoring Watt.
But it was San José State's leading hitter who showed the team's hitting prowess. With the bases loaded, Hufstetler (batting .500 on the season) bombed a triple to right center, emptying the bags for the 6-5 lead.
However, the Spartans wouldn't hold on to their lead for long. Long Beach State responded with a pair of two-RBI hits for the 9-6 score, and retired all three Spartan batters in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.
Fish spent the game's first 3.2 innings in the circle, scattering six hits and allowing five runs. In 3.1 innings of relief, Katelyn Linford (6-7) allowed five hits and four runs.
Hufstetler was the Spartans' top hitter at the University of San Diego Tournament. She posted an outstanding .917 slugging percentage, batting .583 (7-for-12) and driving in four runs. Cox and Garcia each scored a team-high five runs each.
In the circle, Fish went 2-0, holding opponents to a .200 batting average in 10.1 innings of work.
San José State returns to SJSU Field on Wednesday, March 26, when the team hosts Pacific at 1:00 p.m.
San Jose State 6, UC Santa Barbara 3 (Mar 23, 2014 at San Diego, Calif.)
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UC Santa Barbara.... 110 100 0 - 3 10 2 (20-7)
San Jose State...... 100 032 X - 6 6 0 (17-12)
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Pitchers: UC Santa Barbara - Ludlow; Wisdom(3); Pingree(7) and Moore, D.. San Jose State -
Lang, Allison; FISH, Madison(4) and Masutani, Kryn.
Win-FISH, Madison(4-1) Loss-Wisdom(8-6)
Pingree faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Long Beach State 9, San Jose State 6 (Mar 23, 2014 at San Diego, Calif.)
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Long Beach State.... 001 400 4 - 9 11 1 (22-9)
San Jose State...... 010 005 0 - 6 10 3 (17-13)
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Pitchers: Long Beach State - Jones-Wesley; Hansen(6) and Sandoval. San Jose State -
Fish, Madison; LINFORD, Katelyn(4) and Garcia, Jessica.
Win-Hansen(10-4) Loss-LINFORD, Katelyn(6-7)