March 7, 2015
Fullerton, Calif. - The San José State Spartans out hit the 22nd-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils 9-to-7, but came out on the short end of a 6-4 score on the final day of the 2015 Judi Garman Classic.
"I was really happy with the way we approached the game today and for the entire weekend," head coach Peter Turner said. "We out hit (Arizona State) but didn't take advantage of a couple of opportunities which could have made this a different outcome."
The Spartans (16-9) jumped on ASU starter Dale Ryndak in the bottom of the first. Jessie Hufstetler launched her eighth home run of the year, a two-out solo shot to the opposite field to give San José State the lead.
Sharon-Renae Estrada and Alyssa Martinez followed Hufstetler with back-to-back singles. Erin Rodriguez (2-for-3, 2 RBI R) then doubled to the gap in left center to clear the bases. SJSU led 3-0 after one.
Madison Fish (8-3), in her second complete game effort of the season, limited the Sun Devils (19-7) to seven hits, six runs and was perfect through three, but lost the no-hit bid in the fourth.
"(Madison) pitched really well," said Turner. "She gave up a couple of shots, but other than that, they didn't hit her hard at all. What (Arizona State) was able to do, that all good team do, was take advantage of the two opportunities they had."
In the top of the fifth, Fish gave up a bloop single and walk to open the frame. After a pop out, Katee Aguirre got hold of Fish's 2-2 offering and hit it over the center field fence to tie the game 3-3.
The Sun Devils doubled their run total in the sixth. They got successive singles with one out followed by a home run from Sashel Palacios on the first pitch see saw and took a 6-3 lead after five and a half innings.
The Spartans last chance came in the bottom of the frame. San José State loaded the bases with no outs and got an RBI ground out from Nicole Schultz to cut the deficit to 6-4, but a ground out and strike out ended the threat.
Both teams went down in order in the seventh giving ASU the 6-4 victory.
"To get to the level of a top-25 team we have to convert our chances, like ASU did today," Turner said. "We're close. When we start beating ranked teams, you will know we are there."
Arizona State 6, San Jose State 4 (Mar 07, 2015 at Fullerton, Calif.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Arizona State....... 000 033 00 - 6 7 1 (19-7)San Jose State...... 300 001 0X - 4 9 0 (16-9)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Arizona State - Ryndak, D.; Macha, B.(6) and Freeman, A..
San Jose State - Fish, Madison and Entzminger, Emma. Win-Ryndak, D.(8-2)
Save-Macha, B.(2) Loss-FISH, Madison(8-3) T-1:45 A-1800
HR ASU - Palacios, S. (2); Aguirre, K. (4).
HR SJ - Hufstetler, Jessie. Weather: Sunny, clear, High 80s