Annabelle Del Bosque — Reporter
The Spartans return to the diamond to get redemption in the second game against the Broncos.
San Jose State’s softball team (3-10) remains on a losing streak after a 4-1 loss against Santa Clara University (3-6) in game one on March 12.
The Spartans get geared up to turn around their season as they head across town.
Junior pitcher Jenessa Ullegue was in the circle for five innings until senior pitcher Caroline Bowman came in for relief to finish the first game against SCU.
For game two, this pitching duo might be in reverse.
Ullegue and Bowman have to keep the strike zone tight against the Broncos’ heavy hitters sophomore shortstop Emma Bickford and freshman center fielder Ashley Trierweiler.
Bickford and Trierweiler each had two hits against the Spartans’ pitching staff which drove the first and second runs to help secure the win for the Broncos.
With the potential Broncos’ freshman pitcher Zoe Straughn on the bench after pitching almost five innings in the first game, SJSU’s offense has the opportunity to wake up the bats.
To take advantage of Straughn not in the circle, the Spartans need center fielder Jillian Figueroa and senior right fielder Makayla Englestad to contribute offensively again in game two.
Figueroa launched a two-out triple that ricochet off the centerfield’s wall in the fifth inning, and Englestad hit an RBI single to drive in freshman left fielder Malia Luna for the Spartans’ only run.
If Figueroa and Englestad remain productive in the batter’s box, the Spartans’ offense could wake up and start putting runs on the scoreboard.
The game starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Santa Clara Softball Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Follow Annabelle on Twitter @BosqueAnnabelle
