Spartans Sweep Saturday Doubleheader In Walk-Off FashionSpartans Sweep Saturday Doubleheader In Walk-Off Fashion
Kyle Tran, SJSU Athletics

Spartans Sweep Saturday Doubleheader In Walk-Off Fashion

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State softball's Saturday doubleheader was nothing short of thrilling as the Spartans walked off against the Aggies of Utah State not once, but twice, to complete the Saturday Sweep. SJSU plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win game one, 7-6, before coming up on the right side of a pitcher's duel in game two that saw the Spartans walk-off once again on a 2-1 final.

The two wins secures SJSU's first series win over a conference opponent this season as they improved to 3-8 in league play and sit at 7-18 overall. The Spartans will go for the series sweep over the Aggies tomorrow at noon.
 


Game One - San Jose State 7, Utah State 6

Trailing 6-4 with just three outs to play with in the seventh, the Spartans put together a 3-run rally in the home half of the inning to walk off with a 7-6 victory. A lead-off walk and base hit from Alyssa Graham put two runners on with no outs to start the frame. Arianna Miranda took the plate as a pinch hitter and delivered with a RBI single to plate the first run, and Makayla Englestad brought home the tying run after her chopper to third base was misplayed by the Utah State third baseman, allowing Graham to scoot home from third. A groundout advanced both runners up a space with two outs on the board, and one final mistake from the Aggies was all the Spartans needed to clinch the win. Utah State's Delaney Hull's final pitch of the contest got away from her, taking a wild hop and allowing Miranda to easily score from third to walk it off for the Spartans.
 


The SJSU offense as a whole had one of its top performances in league play on the year with 10 knocks led by Jenessa Ullegue's 2-hit day. After allowing a pair of runs to the Aggies in the top of the first, the Spartans responded with a 2-spot of their own in the home half of the first. Malia Luna got things started as she cranked a 2-out double to plate Rayohna Sagapolu. Ullegue then dug in and plated Luna on a RBI single through the left side of the infield. San Jose State then took their first lead of the game at 3-2 in the fourth on a Jocylyn Vidal RBI sacrifice fly.

Utah State got a run back in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3, but the Spartans had an answer in the sixth as Jillian Figueroa doubled home the go-ahead run. Leading 4-3 to start the final inning, SJSU tried to close the door on the Aggies early, but Utah State refused to go down easily and plated three runs to take their 6-4 advantage that was thwarted by Miranda and company in the end.

Caroline Bowman (2-10) worked a complete game for the Spartans to pick up the victory. She struck out a pair and allowed five earned runs on eight hits. Hull (4-5) was charged with the loss for Utah State after taking the circle in the bottom of the seventh looking for the save.

Game two - San Jose State 2, Utah State 1

While game one featured 13 runs and 18 combined hits, the second half of Saturday's doubleheader saw quite the opposite as starting pitchers Jenessa Ullegue and Jessica Stewart went toe-to-toe in a pitcher's duel that lasted nine innings. Ullegue (5-7) was sensational in her 9.0 innings for the Spartans with three strikeouts and was carrying a 3-hit shutout into the seventh inning before Utah State was finally able to find some success against her. The Aggies laced a 1-out double that just missed clearing the yard, but after a quick foul out they were down to their final out. Makenzie McFarlane then hit a single up the middle and Leah Molina made a break from second looking to score. Figueroa's throw from center was on the money and it look as if Grace Garvey was able to apply the tag at the plate to secure the victory for the Spartans, but the runner was ruled safe due to obstruction. 

Tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation, the game extended for two more innings before the Spartans finally put the game to rest in the bottom of the ninth. Jessica Giacoma led off the frame with a base hit and was moved over to third thanks a sac bunt and groundout. Englestad then dug in for what would prove to be the biggest at-bat of the day as she laced a single back through the left side of the infield to plate the game-winning run, giving the Spartans their second walk-off victory in as many games.
 


Englestad's game-winning knock was one of two hits in the game. The senior also tallied a triple to lead-off the fifth inning. San Jose State and Utah State each finished with five hits in the contest.

Stewart (5-8) was charged with the loss after allowing both earned runs in 8.2 innings in the circle. McFarlane and Kennedy Hira each tallied a pair of hits to lead the Aggies' offense.