March 25, 2015
San Jose, Calif. - For the fourth time in as many games the San Jose State softball team earned a run-rule victory, on Wednesday it was 12-4 in five innings over the University of Pacific Tigers.
San Jose State (23-11) pounded out 12 hits, getting at least one from each of the starting nine. It's the 19th time in 34 games the Spartans have reached double digit hits.
Starter Madison Fish struggled with control in her two innings of work. In the first she gave up a single and three walks which allowed Pacific to grab a 1-0 lead. In the second the Tigers got another single and walk, but Fish stranded both runners.
In the bottom of the second SJSU put a six-spot on UOP. Alyssa Martinez started the frame with a single. A pair of walks and hit batsmen later and the game was tied 1-1.
Another bases loaded walk pushed the second run of the inning across. Two batters after that Jessica Madrid (1-for-2, 4 RBI) hit a sac fly for the third run and Jessie Hufstetler stroked her team-leading ninth homer, a three-run job to left center to make it 6-1.
Hufstetler has driven in 52 runs on the year and is one behind Jessica Garcia who set the program record last year with 53 RBI.
Fish gave up two hits to start the third and was lifted in favor of Katelyn Linford. Pacific scored on a fielder's choice and the teams went to the bottom of the third with SJSU up 6-2.
The Spartans rapped out five more hits and scored four runs in the third. The big knocks were an RBI single from Emma Entzminger (2-for-2, 3 R, 2 RBI) and a three-RBI bases clearing double to right center from Madrid. After three complete San Jose State led 10-2.
In the fourth Pacific scored a run on two hits and a Spartan error, but SJSU responded with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning. Successive singles from Taylor Purdy (2-for-2, 3 R), Entzminger and Nicole Schultz (1-for-2, 2 RBI, R) scored the first run. Pinch hitter Anissa Pinedo drove in the 12th run of the game and the first of her Spartans career.
Allison Lang worked the fifth and gave up a leadoff solo home run to Cassidy Gustafson (1-for-2, 3 RBI, R) before slamming the door on the final three batters.
Linford (4-3) earned the win tossing two innings, allowing two hits and one run.
The Spartans return to Mountain West play on Friday opening a three game set at the Fresno State Bulldogs. First pitch for the opener is set for 6:00 p.m.
San Jose State 12, Pacific 4 (Mar 25, 2015 at San Jose, Calif.)------------------------------ ------------------------------ ----------
Pacific............. 101 11 - 4 7 0 (10-25)San Jose State...... 064 2X - 12 12 1 (23-11)------------------------------ ------------------------------ ----------Pitchers: Pacific - WALTERS; BONNET(2); YOUNG(3) and SELLERS; PASCO.San Jose State - Fish, Madison; LINFORD, Katelyn(3); LANG, Allison(5) and Entzminger, Emma.Win-LINFORD, Katelyn(4-3) Loss-WALTERS(0-2)T-1:42 A-139 HR PACIFIC - GUSTAFSON. HR SJ - Hufstetler, Jessie.WALTERS faced 5 batters in the 2nd.
FISH faced 2 batters in the 3rd.