April 14, 2017
Santa Clara, Calif. â€" Colette Riggs struck out a career-high seven batters and limited Boise State to two hits in San José State's 1-0 victory over the Broncos on Friday afternoon.
Riggs, who improved to 7-3 on the season, has won her last seven starts dating back to a 4-1 victory over UTEP on February 19. The streak includes three shutouts and three complete game wins.
Seven strikeouts eclipse her previous high of six, which she accomplished twice in her career, most recently against Detroit Mercy on March 4.
In seven innings, five batters reached base safely against the Spartans' senior. One was by error and two batters were hit, but Boise State (24-14, 6-8 MW) was held hitless until the fourth inning. A leadoff single from Izzy Serrano broke up the no-hitter, but Riggs struck out two of the next three batters to end the inning.
In the sixth, Karlee Johnson got the Broncos' second hit. She singled and then on a sacrifice bunt and groundout made it to third base. Johnson was only Boise State base runner to get into scoring position in the game. Riggs then induced the second groundout of the frame to end the threat and the inning.
While Riggs was shutting down the Boise State offense, a pair of Broncos' pitchers were returning the favor.
Starter Rainey Dyreson (0-2) worked around a pair of base runners in the first and another in the second, but in the fourth San José State (26-14, 6-5 MW) scratched out a run.
With one out a Madison Aurin (1-for-3, R) checked swing found its way through the right side for a single. Chelsea Jenner (1-for-2, 2B) followed Aurin with a hard double to right center putting herself on second and Aurin on third. Jenner's double ended the day for Dyreson who left in favor of reliever Kelsey Broadus.
Broadus' first pitch hit Emma Entzminger to load the bases. Two batters later, Alexandra Luna earned a walk forcing in the games only run. The Spartans had a chance to break the game open, but a Brittany Abacherli foul out ended the inning with the bases loaded.
In the fifth and again in the sixth, SJSU worked Broadus for walks, but were unable to take advantage of either free pass.
In the top of the seventh, Riggs hit the lead off batter to put the tying run on. But after a nine pitch at bat got a strike out and then induced an infield pop out to short for the second out.
The final out came on a ball lifted into foul territory down the right-field line. Right fielder Casey Watt raced into foul territory and gloved the ball as she slammed into the fence. After hitting the ground she showed the ball to the umpire who called the batter out, ending the game.
The Spartans, who have taken the first two games of the series, will go for the sweep on Saturday at noon at Mission College.
San Jose State 1, Boise State 0 (Apr 14, 2017 at Santa Clara, Calif.)
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Boise State......... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (24-14, 6-8 MW)
San Jose State...... 000 100 X - 1 2 1 (26-14, 6-5 MW)
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Pitchers: Boise State - DYRESON, R.; BROADUS, K.(4) and SHREVES, K.; PEARSON, S..
San Jose State - Riggs, Colette and Luna, Alexandra.
Win-RIGGS, Colette (7-3) Loss-DYRESON, R.(0-2) T-1:39 A-112
Game: BSU-SJ2