SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State softball senior outfielder Makayla Englestad plated two go-ahead runs in the late innings of Sunday's series finale to help life the Spartans to a 5-4 win over Utah State and clinch the series sweep. The Spartans have now won three-straight and four of their last six games.
Tied at 3-3 in the fourth inning, Englestad plated her first go-ahead score on a RBI single up the middle that allowed Jenessa Ullegue to slide across safely from second. After Utah State tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth, the Katy, Texas, product dug in once again with a chance to give the Spartans the lead. She did just that, lifting a 2-strike fastball to center field which allowed Alyssa Graham to easily score from third on the sacrifice fly. The two-RBI performance just added to Englestad's impressive weekend against Utah State as she finished 4-for-10 with a triple, three RBI and a run scored against the Aggies.
She came up huge in the 6th with a go-ahead sac fly. What was going through her head?
— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) May 2, 2021
?? @makayyla25 pic.twitter.com/l6ijsbo3aL
San Jose State (8-18, 4-8 MW) struck first in this one with Malia Luna securing the game's first run on a RBI single in the first. Both teams then settled in for a couple innings before an offensive explosion in the fourth. Utah State threw the first punch as they took advantage of a throwing error, RBI single and bases-loaded hit by pitch to take a 3-1 advantage. The Spartans were ready to answer in the home half of the inning with Graham providing the first spark on a rbi triple to left field. After Ullegue drew a walk, Arianna Miranda plated Graham on a RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. Englestad then provided the first of two late lead changes on her RBI knock.
She's so hot right now@makayyla25 gives us the lead on the good ole sac fly!#SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/wjca39gkd2
— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) May 2, 2021
The Spartans finished the game with seven hits including a 2-for-3 day at the plate for Graham, who also drove in a run and scored a pair of her own. They also struck out just two times in the winning effort.
Caroline Bowman got the starting nod in the circle for SJSU, but was lifted in the fourth for Ullegue. The junior from Ventura worked the final 4.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits as she improved to 6-7 on the season. Utah State reliever Kapri Toone (4-12) was charged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the sixth. Gabby Jimenez carried the hot bat for the Aggies, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with the RBI.
.@jenessaullegue has posted back-to-back wins in her last two outings. Here's her thoughts on today's dub. #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/hjOuuDt8Us
— San José State Softball (@SanJoseStateSB) May 2, 2021
The Spartans will look to keep the momentum rolling next weekend as they hit the road for a 3-game set against New Mexico in Albuquerque.