San Diego, Calif. – Three Spartans pitcher combined to give up 12 runs in six innings in San José State softball's 12-3 loss to the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in its final game of the rain soaked San Diego Classic.
After both of its games were rained out on Saturday, the tournament's schedule was altered and the Spartans, who were originally scheduled to take on the San Diego Toreros on Sunday, instead played the UIC Flames.
The San José State (10-7) scored its first run of the game on a third inning solo home run from Arianna Miranda (1-for-3, R, RBI, HR), her team-leading third of the season, but the damage had already been done.
The Flames scored three times in the first inning on a bases-clearing double. In the third tacked on three more off a two-run triple and sacrifice fly to take a 6-0 lead.
In the fourth Illinois-Chicago plated two more runs, both on bases loaded walks, to take a 8-1 lead and added four more in the sixth to go up 12-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Alyssa Graham (1-for-1, RBI, 2B) drove in a run on a double to left and with the bases loaded Alyssa Avila walked to force home the Spartans final run of the game.
Jenessa Ullegue (4-2) started for SJSU, but lasted just one inning, giving up two hits, two walks and three runs. Chrys Hildebrand, who went 4.0 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks, relieved Ullegue. Carley Morfey tossed the final inning and was tagged with the final four runs.
Beside Miranda and Graham, the Spartans managed just two other hits. Ullegue had a single and Jacey Phipps singled and scored.