SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Jose State softball starting pitchers Caroline Bowman and Jenessa Ullegue were outstanding in Saturday's doubleheader against San Diego State, combining for just one run and 10 hits against as the Spartans split the doubleheader with the Aztecs.
Game one featured saw Bowman take the circle for her most impressive outing of the year as she struck out four batters and allowed just six hits as she commanded the Spartans to their first win in conference play of the 2021 season. The 1-0 shutout victory was the Spartans' first win since a 10-3 drumming of Santa Clara on March 13.
Neither offense had much success against the opposing pitcher in game one as SJSU had their hands full with the Aztecs' Maggie Balint (12-6), tallying just three hits against her. However one of those hits proved the be the difference maker. Deadlocked with no score in the fifth inning, Jocylyn Vidal laced a 1-out single up the middle to score pinch runner Jackie Rookaird from second to give the Spartans the decisive 1-0 advantage.
The Aztecs didn't go away quietly and threatened to put together a 2-out rally in the bottom of the seventh after a fielding error and infield single put the winning run on first, however Bowman put both an end to the threat and an exclamation point on her day as she struck out SDSU's last hope to preserve the win.
Game two was eerily similar to the first game, although this 1-0 final went in the Aztecs' favor. Ullegue sparkled in her time in the circle, entering the final frame with just one hit allowed, however something clicked for the SDSU hitters in the seventh as they tallied three straight hits to load the bases and allow a routine groundout to second lead to the walk-off score. Both teams finished with four hits with Vidal securing the game's lone extra base knock on a double in the third inning. The Spartans had a golden opportunity to strike first in the fifth after back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and a sac bunt had two runners in scoring position with one out, but they were stranded to keep the scoreless tie.
The Spartans (5-17) will go for the series win in Sunday's rubber match. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. PT.