April 19, 2014
Boise, Idaho - A walk-off RBI-double for Boise State led to a 7-6 Mountain West defeat for the San José State University softball team, and the Spartans' first conference series loss since 2012, on Saturday.
Boise State (23-19, 8-7 MW) held San José State to a scoreless first inning for the first time in the series and was rewarded. The Spartans (24-18, 7-5 MW) allowed the Broncos to score two one-out runs on a fielder's choice play and a wild pitch. Allison Lang was lifted in favor of Berlyn Rippentrop and, after issuing a bases-loading walk, she forced a fly out to end the inning, trailing 2-0.
Boise State tacked on an RBI-single in the following inning for a 3-0 lead after two.
But San José State was able to tie it up in the top of the fourth. An error committed by the Broncos' shortstop allowed Michelle Cox to score from second. In the next at bat, Erin Rodriguez knocked a single to left field, pushing across Alyssa Martinez and Casey Lester to knot the score, 3-3.
The Broncos' first baseman Ashley Palmer got her second RBI-single of the game to regain the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth.
The Spartans snatched the lead from Boise State's grasp in the fifth inning. With two outs, Cox and Jessica Garcia singled in consecutive plate appearances. In the next at bat, Jessie Hufstetler blasted her third home run of the season over the center field wall to give San José State a 6-4 advantage.
However, clutch hitting by the Broncos allowed them to win the game. A two-run homer and walk-off RBI-double spoiled the Spartans' comeback bid, ending the game with a 7-6 Boise State win.
It was the first conference series loss for San José State since a 2012, 1-2 Western Athletic Conference series loss to New Mexico State, May 4-5.
Cox led the Spartans at the plate on the weekend. She went 5-for-11 (.455) with six runs scored. Hufstetler drove in a team-best five runners, while Sharon-Renae Estrada posted a .857 slugging percentage.
Lang got the game's first two outs before she was lifted for Rippentrop. The sophomore pitched the middle 2.1 innings, scattering four hits and allowing one run and walking one. Lang then worked the following 3.2 innings, giving up seven hits, five runs and walking three. Fish (7-3) pitched the game's final out, suffering the loss by giving up the game-winning run.
San José State hosts Fresno State in its next conference series for a midweek matchup. The series opens with a noon doubleheader on Tuesday, April 22 and concludes with a 12:00 p.m. game on Wednesday, April 23.
NOTES: Following the game, sophomore Erin Rodriguez participated in Boise State's Locks of Love on field donation event. She donated 10 inches of hair in support of cancer patients. Watch video of her donation here.
Boise State 7, San Jose State 6 (Apr 19, 2014 at Boise, Idaho)
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San Jose State...... 000 330 0 - 6 7 0 (24-18, 7-5 MW)
Boise State......... 210 100 3 - 7 12 1 (23-19, 8-7 MW)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Lang, Allison; RIPPENTROP, Berlyn(4); FISH, Madison(7) and
Garcia, Jessica. Boise State - PATTON, Rebecca; MCGILL, MacKenzie(6) and MCCRAY, Brittany.
Win-MCGILL, MacKenzie(4-4) Loss-FISH, Madison(7-3)
HR SJSU - Hufstetler, Jessie (3).
HR BSU - MCCRAY, Brittany (2).
LANG faced 2 batters in the 7th.