San Jose, Calif. – The San José State softball team was down 2-0 with ffour outs left in its game against Montana, when the bats came alive, the team scored four times and went on to defeat the Grizzles 4-2 on day two of the inaugural Silicon Valley Classic.
With the win, the Spartans continue to own the best won-loss record on its home field in the NCAA. SJSU has played six times on its new home field, and has yet to suffer a loss.
San Jose State had seven hits in the game with four coming in the decisive sixth inning.
With one out Rayohna Sagapolu (2-for-3, R) singled to start the rally. Alyssa Avila (1-for-3) followed Sagapolu with a single to right center, which allowed the lead runner to get to third. With runners on the corners a groundout moved Carley Morfey, who was pinch running for Avila, into scoring position. Makayla Englestad walked to load the bases, which set the stage for Arianna Miranda (2-for-3, R, 2RBI, 2B).
The freshman from San Diego, Calif., ripped a double to left center, which plated both Sagapolu and Morfey and tied the game 2-2. Cassidy Clark (1-for-2, 2RBI) followed Miranda to the plate and her single to right brought home Englestad and Morfey giving SJSU its first lead of the day.
Caroline Bowman (4-2), who relieved starter Madison Aurin with two outs in the fifth, finished the Grizzlies off with a one, two, three seventh to earn the win. She tossed 2.1 innings of no-hit relief and struck out three.
The Grizzlies got its runs in the top of the second. They plated two on four hits, half their total for the game, and a Spartans fielding error. Aurin, who pitched 4.2 innings and scattered eight hits, was charged with both runs, but only one was earned.
The Silicon Valley Classic I wraps up on Sunday with two games on the Spartans' home field. The day gets underway at 9:00 a.m. with Ball State taking on Montana. The final game of the tournament is a match up between the Spartans and CSU Bakersfield. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. There will be live stats for both games and the SJSU versus CSUB game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
