March 6, 2016
San Jose, Calif. - Katelyn Linford tossed a complete game and Brittany Abacherli smashed a two run homer in San Jose State softball's 7-3 win over Northwestern in its final game at the Judi Garman Classic.
Linford scattered four hits, all but one a single, struck out a season-high nine and didn't walk a batter in earning her first win of the season.
Abacherli got the Spartans on the board in the first. She singled to lead off the game. With the bases loaded and one out; she scored on a wild pitch.
The score remained 1-0 SJSU into the bottom of the third. Northwestern got back-to-back two-out singles. With runners on second and third, the Wildcats stole home and then plated another run, unearned, on a fielding error by second baseman Taylor Purdy to take a 2-1 lead.
SJSU (6-15) got the lead back with three runs in the top of the fifth. With a runner on, Abacherli (2-for-3, 2R, 2RBI) blasted her team-leading fourth homer, a shot to center. Then with two outs and runners on first and third, Jessie Hufstetler (1-for-1, RBI) lifted a sacrifice fly to plate a run giving the Spartans a 4-2 lead.
San Jose State tacked on three more runs in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Madison Aurin (2-for-4, R) scored on a Purdy (1-for-3, R, RBI) single. Two batters after that Emma Entzminger (1-for-3, R, 2RBI) singled in two more with shot through the right side.
Northwestern (7-10) got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run, but Lindord slammed the door with a flyout and ground out to end the game.
San Jose State 7, Northwestern 3 (Mar 05, 2016 at Fullerton, Calif.)
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San Jose State...... 100 030 3 - 7 10 1 (6-15)
Northwestern........ 002 000 1 - 3 4 3 (7-10)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn and Avila, Alyssa; Luna, Alexandra. Northwestern -
Bond, N.; Ellis, K.(2); Letourneau(5) and Arnold, C..
Win-LINFORD, Katelyn(1-5) Loss-Ellis, K.(1-2) T-2:03 A-230
HR SJ - Abacherli, Brittany (4).
HR NU - Marquez, B. (1).
Weather: Absolute, pertinacious clouds