San Jose, Calif. – Jenessa Ullegue won both games in the circle and had a game-winning hit as the San José State softball team defeated The University of the Pacific and Iona on day three of the Spartan Invitational.
San José State 5, Pacific 4
In the Spartan first game of the day they built a 3-0 lead, but had to earn the victory over the Tigers in comeback fashion.
Jenessa Ullegue (2-for-2, R, 2RBI, HR, SF, BB) got the Spartans on the board with in the second with a solo homer to left. It was her third of the season and gave SJSU a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth, San José State (16-9) put two more runs on the board. Rayohna Sagapolu (1-for-2, R, RBI, 2BB) and Ullegue walked to open the frame. After a flyout and fielder's choice, SJSU had runners on the corners with two outs. Kaelin Amrein (1-for-2, R, SB, BB), who was on first, stole second and both she and Sagapolu scored on an Alyssa Avila (2-for-2, 2RBI, BB) single to make it 3-0 Spartans after five.
In the top of the sixth UOP (11-13) got all the runs back and one more.
The Tigers opened the inning with a single, a walk and a two-RBI double against Caroline Bowman, who had entered the game in the previous inning and got the Spartans out of a jam with one out and a runner on third.
Bowman then got the first out of the sixth on a strikeout, but a walk and a single loaded the bases. UOP scored its third run of the inning on an RBI single, which spelled the end of the day for Bowman.
Ullegue (7-2) came on and gave up a fielder's choice, which scored the fourth run of the inning, but got a crucial strike out to limit the damage to four runs.
In the bottom of the frame the Spartans bounced back with a pair of runs.
Arianna Miranda (1-for-4, R, 2B) doubled to leadoff and moved to third on a groundout. Madison Aurin then walked and was lifted for a pinch runner Mackenzie Drake. Sagapolu singled down the right field line to score Miranda and tie the game 4-4 while Drake moved up the third base. Ullegue then hit a sacrifice fly to right and Drake slid home under the tag of the catcher to put the Spartans back in front 5-4.
In the seventh, Ullegue gave up a one-out single, but induced a ground ball from the next batter for 6-4-3 double play to end the game. She pitched 1.2 innings giving up one hit and a walk to earn her seventh win of the season.
San José State 8, Iona 1
The Spartans scored eight runs, but only one was earned in the victory over the Gaels.
Jenessa Ullegue (8-2) scattered three hits, struck out eight and allowed one run in the complete game victory, and as in game one, contributed with her bat as well.
In the first, SJSU (17-9) got successive two-out singles from Madison Aurin, Rayohna Sagapolu (1-for-4, R) and Ullegue, with Ullegue's hit driving in the first run of the game.
In the second San José State scored six unearned runs to take compete control of the game.
Kaelin Amrein (3-for-3, R, RBI) and Alana Burges (1-for-3, R) singled to open the inning. A fielder's choice then erased Amrein at third and a groundout put runners at second and third with two outs.
But from there the defensive wheels came off for Iona.
A fielding error at second base allowed the runners on second and third to score. Then Aurin (2-for-2, 2R, 2RBI, HR, BB) crushed a two-run homer, her fourth of the season, which made it 5-0. The Gaels second error of the inning allowed Sagapolu to reach base safely and she scored on a Ullegue (3-for-4, R, 2RBI, 2B) double.
The third error of the inning put Ullegue on third and Alyssa Graham on first. Amrein then singled to score Ullegue. When the inning had ended, Iona had committed three errors and given up six unearned runs. The score was 7-0.
In the Iona third, they got a two-out walk and then scored their only run on a double to make it 7-1.
The score remained the same until to bottom of the fifth.
With two outs and Amrein on first. Grace Garvey reached on the Gaels fourth miscue of the game, a throwing error at third base. Amrein was able to get to third on the play and was singled home on a Kristen Heffley (1-for-4, RBI) hit to center.
The score was 8-1 and from there the Spartans cruised to the win.