Fresno, Calif. – The San José State softball team had already secured a series victory against Fresno State and was looking for a sweep, but the Bulldogs outlasted the Spartans in a 4-3 loss for SJSU on Sunday.
"We played great for 19 innings this weekend, but made a mental and physical error in one inning and that cost us the sweep," head coach Peter Turner said. "Our first goal every weekend is to get a series win, and we did that, but I'd be happier if we hadn't given them this game. They earned one of their four runs today and I'm not satisfied with this result and our team isn't either."
For the third game in a row the San Jose State (22-10, 2-1 MW) struck first and in the first inning. With one out Arianna Miranda (1-for-4, R, 2B) roped a double over the head of the left fielder and then Madison Aurin (1-for-3, RBI, 2B, BB) did the same to straight away center to plate Miranda and stake the Spartans to a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Spartans flashed the leather. Shortstop Rayohna Sagapolu got the first out going up the ladder to snag a line drive. Kaelin Amrein got the second out racing in on a shallow popup and made a diving catch. Bowman finished the inning with a strikeout.
In the third, with a runner on first and two out, Cassidy Clark (1-for-4, 2B) ripped a shot down the left field line. The Bulldogs third baseman, with no chance to make a play got leather on the ball, but it was ruled an error not a hit. Aurin was unintentionally intentionally walked to load the bases and Sagapolu (0-for-3, RBI, BB) then worked Fresno starter Danielle East for a walk to extend the lead to 2-0.
Fresno (16-11, 1-5 MW) got all four of its runs in the bottom of the third. They got a leadoff double and two batters later scored on a throwing error by Sagapolu that pulled Aurin off the bag at first. Spartans' starter Caroline Bowman issued a walk to put runners on first and second and a single up the middle scored the runner from second to tie the game 2-2.
The next batter doubled down the line to push two more across and ended Bowman's day. She went 2.2 innings gave up four hits and four runs, only one was earned, had a walk and one strikeout. Aurin entered the circle and got the last out to end the damage with the Spartans trailing for the first time on the weekend, 4-2. Aurin would pitch the remainder of the game, 3.1 innings, giving up one hit, no runs and one strikeout.
The Spartans stranded Clark at second in the fifth, then got a leadoff double from Jenessa Ullegue (1-for-3, R, 2B) in the sixth and she who moved to third on a one-out single from Alyssa Graham. The Fresno second baseman stole a single up the middle from Alyssa Avila with a diving catch, but Makayla Englestad (1-for-4, RBI) drove in Ullegue with a two-out single to get SJSU within a run at 4-3.
The Spartans would get no closer and would have to settle for the series victory.
The Spartans' Mountain West home opener, the first of a three-game series, is Friday evening against Boise State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Spartans Softball Field.
