Feb. 25, 2016
Palm Springs, Calif. - The San Jose State softball team pounded out 14 hits, including a two-run homer from Anissa Pinedo, to hand the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats a 13-6 defeat on the opening day of the 2016 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Pinedo, who was 3-for-4 with a run and four RBIs, was one of five Spartans that enjoyed multi-hit efforts in the game.
"I was extremely please with the discipline we showed at the plate," head coach Peter Turner said. "(Bethune-Cookman's pitchers) were predictable in what they were trying to do. We stuck with the game plan, especially our three through seven hitters, and had a lot of success."
The five, Jessica Madrid, Jessie Hufstetler, Pinedo, Alyssa Martinez and Taylor Purdy combined to go 11-for-21, scored nine times and drove in 10 of the team's 13 runs.
The Spartans (4-8) didn't get off to a great start. SJSU went in order in the top of the first and saw back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the frame, come around to score. Bethune-Cookman (3-9) led 2-0 after one.
San Jose State cut the lead to 2-1 in the second on a two-out RBI double from Purdy, who would drive in four runs in the game.
In the third, Pinedo took Bethune Cookman starter Diedra Genera deep for her first home run of the season and a 3-2 Spartans lead. Martinez (3-for-4, 3R, RBI) followed Pinedo with a single and that was all for Genera, who was lifted in favor of Sabria Anguiano.
Anguiano promptly gave up a single to Purdy and walked Daisy Conchas to load the bases. Emma Entzminger (2-for-4, 2RBI) unloaded them with a two-RBI single to make it 5-2 after two and a half.
But Linford couldn't hold the lead. She gave up a three-run homer. A single followed by a throwing error by centerfielder Brittany Abacherli allowed the runner to move to third and spelled the end of the day for Linford.
Chantelle Ladner came on, allowed a sacrifice fly and induced a pop out to end the inning, but Bethune-Cookman had regained the lead 6-5.
In the fourth, SJSU forged ahead and would never look back. With the bases loaded Martinez drove a ball to the track for an out and a sacrifice fly, but catchers interference erased the out while still scoring the tying run. Purdy drove the next pitch to center field for an RBI and a 7-6 advantage.
Over the next four innings Ladner was in total control. She gave up just two infield hits while striking out three and earned the win. She improved her record to 2-3 on the year.
"Chantelle was outstanding today," Turner said. "She had great location on her downball and was hitting all her spots. She got ahead and dictated how the things were going to go for (Bethune-Cookman). She made them earn everything they got today."
Purdy drove in her third run of the game in the sixth on a single to right center making the score 8-6.
In the seventh, the Spartans erupted for five more runs. Madrid (2-for-5, 2R, 2RBI) knocked in the first on an RBI double for left center. Two batters later Pinedo plated two more with a single up the middle.
Purdy (3-for-5, R, 4RBI) drove in her final run of the day on a shot through the legs of the Wildcats third baseman, which allowed two runs to score for the final of 13-6.
The Spartans continue play in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday with games agaisnt LIU Brooklyn at 10:30 a.m. and Stanford at 5:30 p.m.
San Jose State 13, Bethune-Cookman 6 (Feb 25, 2016 at Cathedral City, CA)
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San Jose State...... 014 201 5 - 13 14 2 (4-8)
Bethune-Cookman..... 204 000 0 - 6 5 3 (3-9)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn; LADNER, Chantelle(3) and Conchas, Daisy.
Bethune-Cookman - GENERA,D.; ANGUIANO,S.(3) and ALAMPRESE,K.; RICHARD,K..
Win-LADNER, Chantelle(2-3) Loss-ANGUIANO,S.(0-4) T-2:30 A-56
HR SJ - Pinedo, Anissa.
HR BCU - SANDERS,B.