SAN JOSE, Calif.— Shay McDowell goes 3-for-6 on the day in a doubleheader to lead the San José State softball team (6-15, 0-0 MW) in a 3-2 win and a 4-1 loss against Santa Clara (10-13, 0-0 WCC) on Saturday from the Spartan Softball Complex.
GAME 1: SAN JOSÉ STATE 3, SANTA CLARA 2
In the first game of the day, the Spartans rallied late to secure a one-run victory. San José State took an early lead in the first inning when Reina Zermeno doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.
After Santa Clara took a 2-1 lead into the fifth, the Spartans responded with a two-run bottom half of the inning. Leata Sherlin singled in the tying run, followed by a go-ahead RBI double from McDowell. Both Zermeno and McDowell finished the game with two hits apiece.
Delaney Faus (3-6) earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing just two runs. Norah Coulsell entered in relief to pitch two scoreless innings, earning her first save of the season by striking out two and effectively ending a Bronco threat in the seventh.
GAME 2: SANTA CLARA 4, SAN JOSÉ STATE 1
The Broncos were led by a complete-game performance from pitcher Ellison Schroeder in the second game. Schroeder held the Spartans hitless until the fifth inning when Taylor Chillingworth broke up the no-hitter with a bunt single.
San José State’s lone run came in the sixth inning when McDowell delivered another RBI single to score Zermeno. Despite loading the bases with no outs in that frame, the Spartans were unable to further close the gap.
Coulsell (3-7) took the loss in the second game, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two runs.
UP NEXT: The Spartans will face Saint Mary's in a doubleheader on Sunday morning, starting at 10:00 a.m. for game one, and then 12:30 p.m. for game two, from the Spartan Softball Complex. The first game can be seen on NBC Sports California.
#AllSpartans