March 7, 2014
Final Stats - Nebraska
Final State - Long Beach State
Fullerton, Calif. - Defensive mistakes plagued the San José State University softball team in its second day at the Judi Garman Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Spartans fell to #16/#14-Nebraska, 4-1, and Long Beach State, 3-1, on Friday.
Clutch hitting by #16/#14-Nebraska (13-7) lead to its 4-1 win over the Spartans (11-9), as the Huskers' lead-off batter reached base three times and scored all three times.
With Nebraska up, 2-0, in the third inning, San José State cut the lead in half. Jessica Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Devin Caldwell for the 2-1 score.
The Huskers responded with a sacrifice fly of their own in the fourth to regain the two-run lead for the 3-1 score, and built upon the margin in the sixth. After Taylor Edwards walked, Austen Urness hit a well-struck ball that ricocheted off the wall in right center, giving time for Rachel Arthur, pinch running for Edwards, to score the final 4-1 run from first.
In her first career complete game, Katelyn Linford (3-3) scattered six hits, allowing two earned runs, fanning two batters and walking two. Said head coach Peter Turner of the freshman's performance, "I judge a pitcher's performance by how hard the opponent is moving the ball and how they're squaring up on her, and she threw up a ton of zeros. She did a good job changing speed and location, and that's a nice sign of maturity to face a contending team and keep us in the game."
Emily Lockman (7-3) earned the win for Nebraska, allowing one run on seven hits with one strikeout in 4.1 innings pitched. Tatum Edwards recorded the save, pitching 2.2 innings of one-hit ball.
In the Spartans' second game of the day, against Long Beach State (15-6), San José State's opponent again took the lead in the first inning.
A lead-off double and a sacrifice bunt moved Shayna Kimbrough to third, and scored in the next at-bat on a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead.
The 49ers built on their lead in the third inning. Consecutive singles and a throwing error plated Kimbrough, and a second run was scored due to a wild pitch for the 3-0 lead.
Garcia's solo home run in the sixth, her fifth long ball of the season, spoiled Long Beach State pitcher Erin Jones-Wesley's bid for a shutout for the final 3-1 score.
Jones-Wesley (8-3) allowed five hits in the complete game win, fanning and walking six batters each.
Linford's record fell to 3-4 in 3.1 innings in the circle. She scattered five hits and allowed two earned runs, fanning two 49ers.
In relief, Berlyn Rippentrop allowed two hits in 1.1 innings and Madison Fish pitched 2.1 perfect innings. Said Turner, "The entire day, I was happy with everyone on the staff. Madison looked as good as she has looked all year."
On the day, the Spartans got off 13 hits with Garcia, Caldwell, Erin Rodriguez and Brittanie Akey each recording two hits. Garcia led San José State with a stellar 1.250 slugging percentage.
Despite a presence at the plate, however, the Spartans continue to be plagued by defensive mistakes. The team has committed an error in 16 of 20 games this season, being charged with at least one error in the last nine games.
"We have the pitching and hitting to beat anyone in the country," Turner said. "But we need to do a better job of playing all three facets of the game at one time. We learn lessons by failing and hopefully we won't duplicate mistakes."
San José State continues its play at the Judi Garman Classic by facing #10/#7-Arizona State tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
Nebraska 4, San Jose State 1 (Mar 07, 2014 at Fullerton, Calif.)
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Nebraska............ 110 101 0 - 4 6 1 (13-7)
San Jose State...... 001 000 0 - 1 8 2 (11-8)
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Pitchers: Nebraska - Lockman; Edwards, Tat(5) and Edwards, Tay. San Jose State -
Linford, Katelyn and Garcia, Jessica.
Win-Lockman(7-3) Save-Edwards, Tat(1) Loss-LINFORD, Katelyn(3-3)
HR NEB - Edwards, Tay (4).
Long Beach State 3, San Jose State 1 (Mar 07, 2014 at Fullerton, Calif.)
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Long Beach State.... 102 000 0 - 3 7 2 (15-6)
San Jose State...... 000 001 0 - 1 5 1 (11-9)
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Pitchers: Long Beach State - Jones-Wesley and Sandoval. San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn;
RIPPENTROP, Berlyn(4); FISH, Madison(5) and Masutani, Kryn; Garcia, Jessica.
Win-Jones-Wesley(8-3) Loss-LINFORD, Katelyn(3-4)
HR SJSU - Garcia, Jessica (5).