MORAGA, Calif. – San Jose State softball split Sunday's doubleheader against the Gaels of Saint Mary's, winning game one by a final of 10-4 before dropping game two 7-5. The Spartans are 2-4 on the season while Saint Mary's sits at 6-6.
Game One – Spartans 10, Saint Mary's 4
The Spartans had their most productive offensive game of the early season as they tallied 11 hits, including seven extra-base knocks. Alyssa Graham continued her blistering start in the box by finishing 2-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI, the first of which kick-started a five-run third inning. Arianna Miranda followed Graham's double with a three-run homer over the wall in left-center to give SJSU a 5-2 lead.
A two-run homer from the Gaels chipped the lead down to 5-4 in the home half of the third, but the Spartans answered with three more runs in the fifth to regain a 8-4 advantage. Malia Luna scooted home on a Gael error for the first run and Ashley Rico plated two more on a 2-RBI single.
The Spartans tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Graham doubled up on her double count with a two-RBI shot to left field.
Graham, Lozano (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Rico (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) all finished with multi-hit efforts to lead the SJSU offense. In the circle it was the 1-2 punch of Caroline Bowman and Jenessa Ullegue that held the Saint Mary's attack to four runs.
Bowman worked the first 3.1 innings and struck-out a season-high four batters before being lifted in favor of Ullegue in the fourth. Ullegue (2-1) earned her second-straight win as she allowed just one hit in 3.2 shutout innings to close the contest.
Game Two – Saint Mary's 7, Spartans 5
Contrary to the first game, the Spartan bats found hits tough to come by for the first few innings before exploding for five runs in the sixth inning with a two-out rally. Entering the inning with just one hit, SJSU put together six innings in the frame alone, including two doubles and a three-run homer by Janessa Lozano. Pinch hitter Vicky Gutierrez followed by working a full count and lacing a 2-run double down the line in left to cut the deficit to 7-5.
Unfortunately the Spartans were unable to complete the comeback. SJSU had their chance in the seventh after putting runners aboard with two outs, but was unable to capitalize and fell by a final of 7-5.
Graham led the way offensively with two hits. Sophomore Jackie Rookaird made her first start with the Spartans and pitched the first two innings before giving way to Bowman. Bowman worked 3.1 innings scattering seven hits and allowing two unearned runs before giving way to Ullegue, who finished the final 0.2 innings without a hit.
The Spartans return to action next Friday, March 5, as they open play at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
