Feb. 24, 2017
Phoenix, Ariz. â€" The San José State softball team defeated the University of Rhode Island 4-3 and Portland State University 8-0 in five innings Thursday afternoon to sweep its games on day two of the GCU Invitational.
SAN JOSÉ STATE 4, RHODE ISLAND 3
San Jose State (6-6) had runners on five of six innings, took a 4-0 lead after four and held on for the victory over Rhode Island (1-5) in its first game of the day.
After working URI starter Becca Rogers for three walks in the first two innings, but not scoring, the Spartans broke through for a run in the third.
Kristen Heffley led off with a single and moved into scoring position on an infield out. She was lifted for pinch runner Makayla Englestad, who scored on a Madison Aurin double to right.
The Spartans added three more runs on the fourth. Brittany Abacherli walked to lead off the inning and stole second, one of two steals she had in the game. Emma Entzminger then roped a double into the gap in left center bringing Abacherli home. That spelled the end of the day for URI's Rogers (1-2) who was replace by Madi Lewis.
Entzminger moved to third on a passed ball and scored the team's second run of the inning on Mackenzie Drake's single to left. Two batters later, with Chelsea Jenner on first as a pinch runner, Casey Watt tripled to center. Jenner came all the way around and scored giving SJSU a 4-0 lead.
Katelyn Linford set down the first nine batters she faced, before giving up a single to open the fourth. Then in the fifth, Rhode Island got its first run of the game on back-to-back doubles to open the frame. They had a runner on third with two outs, but the innings ended when she was caught attempting to steal home.
In the sixth, URI added two more runs. With a runner on second and two outs, they got a two run homer from Melanie Martire to trim the SJSU lead to 4-3.
In the seventh, Colette Riggs picked up her second save of the season. She set the Rams down in order on a pop out and back-to-back strikeouts.
Linford (4-1) tossed six innings of five-hit ball. She struck out nine and didn't walk anyone.
San Jose State 4, Rhode Island 3 (Feb 24, 2017 at Phoenix, Ariz.)
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Rhode Island........ 000 012 0 - 3 5 0 (1-5)
San Jose State...... 001 300 X - 4 6 0 (6-6)
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Pitchers: Rhode Island - ROGERS; LEWIS(4) and SUMMERS. San Jose State - Linford, Katelyn;
RIGGS, Colette(7) and Avila, Alyssa.
Win-LINFORD, Katelyn(4-1) Save-RIGGS, Colette(1) Loss-ROGERS(1-2) T-1:55 A-75
HR URI - MARTIRE.
Weather: Sunny, 48 degrees
ROGERS faced 2 batters in the 4th.
Game: URI-SJ
SAN JOSÉ STATE 8, PORTLAND STATE 0 (5 INNINGS)
Brittany Abacherli smashed a three-run shot in the top of the first, and the Spartans (7-6) never looked back in an 8-0 run-rule victory over the Portland State Vikings (0-6).
After Kristen Heffley opened the game getting on base due to catcher's interference followed by a double from Casey Watt, Abacherli crushed her first homer of the season for a 3-0 lead.
The score remained 3-0 until the top of the fifth when SJSU tacked on five more.
Abacherli led off with a single and moved into scoring position on her third steal of the day. Alexandra Luna drove her in on a single down the left field line.
After a pitching change, Kaelin Amrein singled and Luna moved to third. Amrein was lifted for pinch runner Chelsea Jenner and the next batter, Cassidy Clark, drove in Luna and Jenner went to third.
Emma Entzminger reached on a fielding error at first, which plated Jenner and Clark making it 7-0. The final run of the inning came on a Georgia Blair single to the right center gap, which scored Entzminger.
Emily Rogers (2-1) pitched 3.2 innings of shutout ball and earned the win. Kacie Gresenz tossed the last 1.1 innings to secure the shutout.
San Jose State 8, Portland State 0 (Feb 24, 2017 at Phoenix,Ariz.)
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San Jose State...... 300 05 - 8 8 4 (7-6)
Portland State...... 000 00 - 0 5 2 (0-6)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Rogers, Emily; GRESENZ, Kacie(4) and Luna, Alexandra.
Portland State - DETAMORE, E; COOK, E(5) and KRAMER, K.
Win-ROGERS, Emily(2-1) Loss-DETAMORE, E(0-4) T-1:31 A-76
HR SJ - Abacherli, Brittany.
Weather: Sunny, 58 degrees
Game: SJ-PSU