May 8, 2018
Reno, Nev. - The San José State softball team gave up five runs in the first inning and never recovered in a 9-4 loss at Nevada on Tuesday afternoon. The contest, which was a make up game from last month when the Wolf Pack field was unplayable due to weather, is the final regular season game for the Spartans.
In the top of the first, San José State (32-17, 16-8 MW) got two runners on by way of walk, but couldn't push any runs across, and that was as close as the game would be for the rest of the day.
In the bottom of the first, the Wolf Pack's first three batters reached base safely on an infield single, a Texas Leaguer to center and then a walk. Starter Madison Aurin (16-13) got a strikeout, but then gave up a single through the right side to plate the first run of the game. A Rayohna Sagapolu error at third and then a fielder's choice plated two more runs to make it 3-0. A wild pitch and RBI double brought in the last two runs of the inning and spelled the end of the day for Aurin. She went just 0.2 innings giving up four hits and five runs, walked one and struck out one.
Caroline Bowman came on in relief and got the last out, but the damage was done and after one inning SJSU was down 5-0. In the second, a one-out triple followed by an RBI single made it 6-0.
SJSU scored it's first run of the game in the third on an RBI-single from Aurin (2-for-3, RBI) to make it 6-1, but Nevada came right back in the bottom of the frame with a solo-homer to push its lead back at six, 7-1.
The Spartans got their second run in the fourth on an RBI-single from Georgia Blair (1-for-2, RBI), but as in the third, Nevada (23-24, 10-11 MW) took the run back in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-2.
SJSU got its final two runs in the sixth on a Jacey Phipps (1-for-3, 2RBI) single up the middle which scored two to make it 8-4. In the bottom of the inning, a solo shot gave Nevada a 9-4 lead, which would be the final score.
Bowman did not figure in the decision, but pitched 5.1 innings giving up nine hits and five runs. She struck out two and didn't walk anyone.
While the scenario is highly improbable, the Spartans have not been eliminated from contention for the 2018 Mountain West championship. SJSU would need Nevada to defeat Fresno State once this weekend and Boise State would have to lose twice to New Mexico for San Jose State to claim the title.
Nevada 9, San Jose State 4 (May 08, 2018 at Reno, Nev.)
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San Jose State...... 001 102 0 - 4 6 2 (32-17, 16-8 MW)
Nevada.............. 511 101 X - 9 13 1 (23-24, 10-11 MW)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Aurin, Madison; Bowman, Caroline(1) and Avila, Alyssa. Nevada -
GEIL, A; SARGENT, K(4) and BURDA, H.
Win-SARGENT, K(7-10) Loss-Aurin, Madison(16-13) T-2:03 A-77
HR NV - HANSEN, E (13); MELLO, S (3).
Weather: Warm with clear skies
GEIL, A faced 1 batter in the 4th.
Game: SJ-NV3