San Jose, Calif. – The San José State softball team plays co-host of the inaugural Silicon Valley Classic I this weekend in the San José State Softball Complex. Eight games will be played between Friday, February 22 and Sunday, February 24.
The tournament is being co-hosted by Santa Clara University and teams will play games at both schools.
Live Stats will be provided for all game played at the San José State Softball Complex. The San José State vs. Ball State (11:30 a.m. on February 22) and San José State vs. Northern Colorado (2:00 p.m. on February 22) will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Links for live stats and streaming video are on the Spartans schedule page at www.sjsuspartans.com.
Silicon Valley Classic I
San José State Softball Complex
San Jose, Calif.
Friday, February 22
9:00 a.m. – Ball State vs. Northern Colorado
11:30 a.m. – Ball State at San José State
2:00 p.m. – Northern Colorado at San José State
Saturday, February 23
9:00 a.m. – CSU Bakersfield vs. Ball State
11:30 a.m. – Montana vs. CSU Bakersfield
2:00 p.m. – Montana at San José State
Sunday, February 24
9:00 a.m. – Ball State vs. Montana
11:30 a.m. – CSU Bakersfield at San José State
Quick Look At The Spartans
San José State began the season 3-0, but after going 2-2 at last weekend's Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M., now sit at 5-5 overall.
Junior Makayla Englestad continues to lead the team in batting average. She's hitting .429 (12-for-28), has scored eight times and walked six. She is tied with two others for the team lead in doubles (3), has a .556 on base percentage and when she on base is 2-for-2 in stolen bases. Senior Madison Aurin leads the team with six RBIs. She and fellow senior Kaelin Amrein, freshman Jenessa Ullegue and Georgia Blair, a junior, have a home run each. As a team, the Spartans are hitting .242, are 2for-2 in stolen bases and are fielding at a .945 pace.
In the circle, the Spartans have a team ERA of 4.54 with sophomore Caroline Bowman making a team-high four starts and posting a 2-2 record. In 22.0 innings she has struck out 14, walked just three and opposing batters are hitting .316 off her. Ullegue is 1-1 with a 2.58 ERA and has two saves. In 19.0 innings she has 14 strikeouts, has walked three and batters are hitting .227 off her.
Opponent Previews
Ball State Cardinals (7-4)
Ball State spent the season's first two weekends in Florida. They went 3-2 at the FGCU Kickoff Classic and then posted a 4-2 record in last week's Madeira Beach Invitational. At the Madeira Beach Invitational they picked up wins against Monmouth, Central Arkansas, Delaware and Quinnipiac, but fell to Murray State and Belmont.
As a team, Ball State is batting .174 through its first 11 games. Hitting .267, Stacy Payton has the team's highest batting average, is tied for the team lead with eight hits and ranks second with seven RBIs. Janae Hogg provides the power with a team-high two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs. The Cardinals are 7-for-10 in stolen base attempts and have a fielding percentage of .944.
In the circle, Ball State has a team ERA of 2.43 with Darcie Hubner posting a 1-1 record and a 0.47 ERA in four starts. She has tossed 15.0 innings, struck out 12 while walking seven, and batters are hitting .148 off her.
This will be the second meeting between these two programs. San José State defeated Ball State 1-0 in the 1994 National Invitational Softball Tournament.
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (4-3)
CSU Bakersfield spent the season's first two weekends in California. They went 3-1 at the NorCal Kickoff in Sacramento and then posted a 1-2 record in last week's rain soaked CSUN Early Bird Classic. The CSUN tournament they split a pair of games against Binghamton and fell to Army. Two other contest were rainouts.
As a team, CSU Bakersfield is batting .267 through its first seven games. Hitting .381, Stacy Payton has the team's highest batting average, and with three RBIs shares the team lead with five teammates. The Roadrunners are 8-for-11 in stolen base attempts and have a fielding percentage of .966.
In the circle, CSU Bakersfield has a team ERA of 4.62 with Julie Lewis posting a 0-1 record and a 1.98 ERA in four starts. She has tossed 13.2 innings, struck out six while walking nine, and batters are hitting .239 off her. Kiara Azevedo has appeared in a team-high six games and has a 3-2 record with a 6.23 ERA. She leads the team with 12 strikeouts and has surrendered four walks in 17.1 innings. Batters are hitting .308 off her.
This will be the 21st meeting between these two programs after playing 20 games between 2008 and 2012. San José State has taken the last three meeting and eight of the last nine.
Montana Grizzlies (1-9)
Montana spent the season's first weekend in Northern California and then participated in New Mexico State's Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. They went 1-4 at the NorCal Kickoff in Sacramento with its lone win coming against Santa Clara in the first game of the year. They were shutout of the win column in New Mexico, including a 6-5 loss to San José State.
As a team, Montana is batting .268 through its first ten games. Hitting .433, Maygen McGrath has the team's highest batting average. Cami Sellers is tied for the team lead with six RBIs and leads the squad with six doubles. The Grizzlies are 1-for-4 in stolen base attempts and have a fielding percentage of .939.
In the circle, Montana has a team ERA of 4.85 with Colleen Driscoll posting a 1-2 record and a 6.00 ERA in a team-high three starts. She has tossed 14.0 innings, struck out 11 while walking two, and batters are hitting .373 off her. Michaela Hood has appeared in a team-high six games and has a 0-3 record with a 4.26 ERA. She leads the team with 22 strikeouts and has given up 15 walks in 24.2 innings. Batters are hitting .324 off her.
This will be the second meeting between these two programs after a 6-5 SJSU victory in last week's Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.
Northern Colorado Bears (1-8)
Northern Colorado spent the season's first weekend in College Station, Texas at Texas A&M's Aggie Classic where they went 1-4 with a win against Cal Baptist. Last week they participated in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. They were shutout of the win column in four games.
As a team, Northern Colorado is batting .161 through its first nine games. Among regulars, Kenzie Kurda, who has played in each of the team's nine games, leads the squad with a .375 average. She leads the team with three runs and nine hits. The Grizzlies are 0-for-3 in stolen base attempts and have a fielding percentage of .938.
In the circle, Northern Colorado has a team ERA of 9.88 with Valerie Vidal posting a 1-6 record and a 7.90 ERA in a team-high seven starts. She has tossed 35.1 innings, struck out 18 while walking 15, and batters are hitting .364 off her.
This will be the 12th meeting between these two programs with San Jose State holding an 8-3 advantage in the all-time series. The Spartans have won four of the last five, including a pair of neutral site wins in 2010, the last time the teams squared off.
