April 29, 2018
San Jose, Calif. - On Sunday, Jacey Phipps broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run inside the park home run propelling the San José State softball team to a 3-1 victory over the New Mexico Lobos.
With the win, the Spartans (30-15, 14-6 MW) completed a three-game sweep of the Lobos (12-35, 5-13 MW) and it's the fifth time in the last six seasons SJSU has won at least 30 games.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Desiree Reyes worked Lobos starter Jensen Main for a walk, which brought Phipps (1-for-2, R, 2RBI, HR) to the plate. On the first pitch she saw, she ripped a shot to left.
The fielder, who was cheating toward center, sprinted to make the catch along the left field line. The ball ricocheted off her glove into foul territory. It headed toward the leftfield corner and Phipps was off to the races. By the time the Lobos had recovered and gotten the ball back in, Phipps had rounded the bases for an inside the park home run.
It was her third homer of the season and staked San José State to a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, the Spartans added on an insurance run. With one out, a pitch hit Emma Entzminger, who was playing in the final home game of her Spartans' career. After a fly out, Entzminger then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
Cassidy Clark then hit a shot deep in the hole at short. Lobos' shortstop Cameryn O'Grady made a diving stop and fired a strike to first. Her throw was in time, but pulled the first baseman off the bag. The throwing error extended the inning and allowed Entzminger to score making it 3-0.
New Mexico got its run in the top of the sixth. With two outs and runners on the corners, Monica Salas doubled in a run to make it 3-1.
In addition to Phipps' homer, Alyssa Avila (1-for-2) and Madison Aurin (1-for-3) each had a hit for the Spartans.
As in the previous two games of the series, Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel.
Aurin held New Mexico hitless until one out in the fifth and finished the game with six strikeouts, equaling her season and career high. She gave up four hits and four walks in the complete game win, improving her record to 14-11.
For the Lobos, Jensen went 6.0 innings allowed three hits and three runs; two earned. She struck out three and walked three. Her record is now 6-18.
San José State travels to Logan, Utah, next week play its final Mountain West regular season series.
San Jose State 3, New Mexico 1 (Apr 29, 2018 at San Jose, Calif.)
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New Mexico.......... 000 001 0 - 1 4 1 (12-35, 5-13 MW)
San Jose State...... 000 210 X - 3 3 0 (30-15, 14-6 MW)
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Pitchers: New Mexico - MAIN and BRODERICK. San Jose State - Aurin, Madison and Avila, Alyssa.
Win-AURIN, Madison(14-11) Loss-MAIN(6-18) T-1:41 A-217
HR SJ - Phipps, Jacey (3).
Game: NM-SJ3