Las Cruces, N.M. – The San José State softball team defeated the Montana Grizzlies 6-5 in the opening game of the Troy Cox Classic, but were ambushed by the Texas State Bobcats 12-3 in six innings in the second game of the day.
San José State 6, Montana 5
The Spartans built a 5-0 lead through four innings and then held on for a 6-5 victory in its first game in the 2019 Troy Cox Classic.
The Spartans (4-3) scored in each of the first four innings in building its lead.
In the bottom of the first, after a Cassidy Clark (2-for-2, 2B, RBI) single and Madison Aurin (3-for-4, 2R, 2RBI, 2 2B, HR) double, they had runners on second and third with two outs. Arianna Mirando (1-for-3, R) then hit a dart to short, which the fielder couldn't handle. The error allowed both Clark and Aurin to score and stake SJSU to a 2-0 lead.
In the second, with the bases loaded and one out, Clark hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Alyssa Avila, who had doubled to start the inning.
The bases were loaded again in the third, this time with two outs. Makayla Englestad (1-for-3, R, RBI) worked the Montana pitcher for a walk to drive in the fourth run of the game. And in the fourth Aurin hit a solo homer to make it 5-0.
Caroline Bowman (2-1) cruised through the first four innings allowing just a pair of singles, but in the fifth ran into trouble. She got the first two batters, but then surrendered three straight hits; a double, and back-to-back RBI singles. A fielding error by third baseman Alyssa Graham allowed the inning to continue and a single by the next batter scored the final run of the frame. After four and a half, it was 5-3 Spartans.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Clark and Aurin combo manufactured what would end up being the game-winning run. Clark singled with one out and Aurin drove her in with her third extra-base hit of the game, an RBI double.
Jenessa Ullegue entered the circle in the sixth and gave up a pair of hits, but stranded both runners. Leading 6-3 heading to the top of the seventh, she gave up a leadoff walk and two batters later a two-run homer to draw Montana (1-5) within a run. With two outs, and a runner on second, Ullegue induced a ground out to end the game. Despite allowing a pair of runs, she earned the first save of her collegiate career.
Texas State 12, San José State 3 (6 innings)
Texas State jumped on the Spartans early and earned a 12-3 run-rule victory in the second game of the day.
The Bobcats (3-2) got an RBI single in the first, a pair of homers in the second, a solo shot and two-run bomb, to build a 4-0 lead after two innings and never looked back.
In the game, Texas State got four homers to drive in seven of their 12 runs. They rapped out 15 hits against three San José State (4-4) pitchers in the six-inning victory.
SJSU starter Chrys Hildebrand lasted 1.1 innings, giving up four hits and four earned runs in taking the loss. She is now 1-2 on the season.
Madison Aurin was the first pitcher of the pen. She went 1.2 innings surrendered five hits and two earned runs. Carley Morfey pitched the final 2.2 innings and was tagged with seven hits and six runs, five of which were earned.
The Spartans runs came one at a time, in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
In the third, Rayohna Sagapolu (1-for-1, 2R, RBI, 2 BB) led off with a walk. Three batters later, with two outs, Makayla Englestad reach on a fielding error at first base and the Spartans had runners at the corners. Kaelin Amrein then reached on an error at short to plate the team's first run and make it a 4-1 game.
In the fifth, with Texas State up 8-1, Sagapolu again led off with a walk and two batters later Mackenzie Drake (1-for-3, 2B) doubled to put runners on second and third. Pinch hitter Janessa Lozano (1-for-1, RBI) then singled to short to plate Sagapolu and make it an 8-2 game.
The Bobcats got the run right back in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-2.
In the sixth the Spartans scored their final run. With one out, Georgia Blair (1-for-1, R, 2B) doubled and was followed by pinch hitter Taylor Tiger (1-for-1) who singled to move Blair to third. Sagapolu then singled to drive in Blair and make it 9-3 game. The Spartans had the bases loaded with one out, but Drake lined into a double play to end the threat.
In the bottom of the frame Texas State got an RBI-single and then a two-run homer to end the game, 12-3.
