San Jose, Calif. – In its last two non-conference games of the 2019 season, the San José State softball team swept a doubleheader from the Manhattan College Jaspers in comeback fashion by the scores of 9-2 and 8-6 on Tuesday afternoon on Spartan Softball Field.
San José State 9, Manhattan College 2
The Spartans (19-9) scored eight runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat Manhattan College 9-2.
The Spartans committed four errors and gave Manhattan numerous chances to break the game open. The Jaspers (8-9) left runners on in every inning except the second and had a total of nine in the game.
Manhattan score one run in the first to take an early 1-0 lead, but left one runner on.
In the second, Madison Aurin (1-for-2, 2R, 2B)doubled to right and attempted to stretch it into a triple. The throw from right field beat her to the bag, but the Jaspers third baseman blocked the bag before the ball arrived, was called for interference and Aurin was awarded the base. Two batters later Jenessa Ullegue (1-for-2, R, 2RBI, BB) singled Aurin in to tie the game.
In the third Manhattan left two base runners, including one in scoring position, and in the fourth re took the lead on a Spartan three-base error. The batter singled through the right side, but right fielder Arianna Miranda misplayed the ball. It went all the way to the fence and by the time SJSU got the ball back into the infield, the hitter had come all the way around to score to make it 2-1 the Jaspers.
In the fifth and sixth innings, Manhattan left a total of three runners on, including two in scoring position.
Then in the bottom of the sixth the Spartans erupted. They sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored eight runs on four hits and one Jaspers' error.
Makayla Englestad (1-for-4, R, RBI, 3B) tripled to open the inning and was driven in on a Miranda single.
Cassidy Clark walked and after Aurin was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded. Rayohna Sagapolu (0-for-2, R, RBI, BB)and Ullegue both walked to drive in the second and third runs of the inning. Kaelin Amrein (1-for-1, R, RBI) then singled in the fourth run.
Pinch hitter Alana Burges (1-for-1, R, RBI, 2B) roped a double to left center and two more runs scored to make it 7-1. A wild pitch allowed the seventh run of the inning to score and the eighth came on a fielding error by the Manhattan short stop. When the inning was over the Spartans had gone from a run down to up by seven runs.
The Jaspers got two more runners on in the seventh, but couldn't push any runs across and the Spartans took the 9-2 victory.
In the circle for SJSU, Caroline Bowman pitched her fourth compete game of the season and improved her record to 8-3. She gave up nine hits and two runs, one earned, had two walks and no strikeouts.
San José State 8, Manhattan College 6
San José State (20-9) trailed 2-0 and 4-3, before a five-run fifth gave them a lead they would not relinquish in an 8-6 victory.
As in the first game of the day, Manhattan (8-10) took an early lead. With the bases loaded and one out, they got a two-RBI single down the left field line to take a 2-0 lead. But, also as in game one, they left runners on base. For the game, the Jaspers left a total of 12 base runners starting with two in the first and another two in the second.
In the third, SJSU put up a three-spot. With two outs, Jenessa Ullegue (3-for-4, 2R, RBI) got an infield single and scored on the first of two triples Kaelin Amrein (2-for-4, 2R, 4RBI, 2 3B) would hit in the game. Alyssa Graham (1-for-3, R, 2RBI, HR) then crushed a two-run shot, her third of the season, over the centerfield fence to make it 3-2 Spartans.
Manhattan tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single and then took the lead in the fifth on another RBI single, but the advantage was short lived.
In the Spartans fifth, they scored five times to make it 8-4.
Following a catcher's interference and a double from Cassidy Clark (3-for-4, R, 2B), SJSU had two in scoring position. Madison Aurin (0-for-2, 2BB) walked to load the bases, and following a fielder's choice in which the Spartans' runner at third was cut down at the plate, Ullegue singled to score a run and tie it at 4-4.
Amrein then ripped her second triple into the gap in right center, which cleared the bases. Amrein also scored on the play folloing an errant throw home from the cutoff man in right center.
In the seventh, Manhattan tacked on two runs on an RBI triple, but Aurin, who had come on to pitch in the fifth, closed the game out for the 8-6 victory.
Ullegue started the game and went 4.0 innings. She scattered seven hits, gave up three runs, two earned, and struck out six, but didn't figure in the decision.
Aurin (3-2), went 3.0 innings, also gave up seven hits and three runs, with two strikeouts to earn the win out of the pen.
The Spartans open up Mountain West play this weekend at Fresno State. Game times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are 6:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and noon, respectively.