Hammond, La. – The San José State softball team jumped out to a 1-0 lead and then scored five times in the last two innings to secure a 6-2 victory over the Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) Lions in both team's season opener.
"We played like it was the first game of the season," head coach Peter Turner said. "There was some shoddy defense and we game them to many opportunities to score. But I was pleased that when our opportunities came we executed."
Leftfielder Makayla Englestad (2-for-2, 3R) was hit by a pitch in the top of the first and two batters later scored on a Madison Aurin single to stake SJSU to a 1-0 lead.
Aurin then entered the circle and held the Lions off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth. In that frame, SLU got the first three batters on with a single, an error and a walk and then scored on a sacrifice fly to tie it 1-1.
In the fifth, Southeastern Louisiana tacked on another run beginning with a one-out double, which ended Aurin's pitching day. Caroline Bowman came on in relief and, after recording the second out of the inning, surrendered an RBI double allowing the Lions to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, the Spartans grabbed the lead for good. Englestad led off with a single and scored on a Kaelin Amrein (1-for-3, R, 2 RBI) double. Two batters later Amrein scored on a fielding error.
"Makayla and Kaelin have both had good Springs and really contributed today." Turner said. "I was pretty please they way the hit and we will need it from them as we continue on this season."
In the seventh, the wheels came off for the Southeastern Louisiana pitching staff. They used four pitchers who gave up three runs on a hit, an error and four walks.
Caroline Bowman (1-0) earned the win and is now 10-0 in her career in non-conference games. On Thursday she tossed 2.2 innings of shutout ball and scattered three runs.
"Maddy was in and out of trouble, but kept things close." Turner said, "I was happy that Bowman came in and threw up some zeros when we needed them."
Aurin went 4.1 innings giving up six hits and two runs, both earned. With the bat she was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Rayohna Sagapolu (2-for-3) and Mackenzie Drake (1-for-3, R) also contributed to the Spartans offense.
San Jose State stays in Hammond and will compete in the Lion Classic over the weekend. The team plays two games tomorrow versus Northern Illinois at 3:00 p.m. (CT) and Mississippi Valley State at 5:00 p.m. (CT). There will be no streaming video or live stats for either game.
