SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State softball scored one run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and walk away with a series-clinching 3-2 victory over Utah State Saturday afternoon at the Spartan Softball Complex.
The Spartan offense, which racked up 11 hits in the game one victory on Friday, had a sluggish start with just two combined hits through the first four innings of play. That changed in the fifth as SJSU tallied three hits in the frame, including a RBI single by Kristen Heffley that plated their first run.
SJSU followed with another strong offensive showing in the sixth. After Jenessa Ullegue walked to lead off the frame, Cassidy Clark moved her to third with a double to center. Ullegue came across for the tying run one batter later on a sacrifice fly to deep right field. Alyssa Graham then delivered the biggest hit of the game as she turned on a 1-0 count and sent a double to the gap in left-center that plated pinch runner Mackenzie Drake for the go-ahead run.
Spartan reliever Caroline Bowman (10-6) was outstanding in her 3.1 innings in the circle, but relied on her defense to close things out in the seventh. Utah State hit back-to-back infield singles with one out, the second of which bouncing off of Bowman to put the go-ahead run at the plate. Kenzi Bolin got the last crack for the Aggies and lined a routine groundball back to Bowman, however the ball got away from her. Luckily shortstop Rayohna Sagapolu was able to make a head's up play to recover the misplay and threw the runner out at first to both prevent the error and finish the game.
SJSU (31-15, 11-6) finished with seven hits while allowing eight to Utah State (13-27, 4-14). Sagapolu, Clark and Graham all finished with a pair of hits to lead the way.
The series finale begins tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. PT.
