By Lindsey Boyd:
San Jose State (7-6) brought its brooms today, sweeping Rhode Island (1-5) in a nail biting 4-3 game, and easily clinching the win 8-0 against Portland State (0-5), SJSU cleaned house in its double header today.
Facing Rhode Island first, the Spartans dominated in the third and fourth innings, leading the Rams 4-0 through the middle innings.
The Spartans scored first in the bottom of the third when Madison Aurin doubled to right field to bring home Makayla Englestad.
SJSU had a smashing fourth inning against the Rams. Emma Entzminger doubled, Mackenzie Drake singled and Casey Watt tripled to bring in three more runs.
In total, the Spartans had four different players with RBIs.
SJSU pitcher Katelyn Linford (4-1) was key in the circle, striking out nine players over six innings against Rhode Island.
The Rams changed the tide of the game when they came back to score their first three runs in the fifth and sixth inning. Colette Riggs held her ground in the circle and shut out Rhode Island in the last inning, sealing the win for the Spartans 4-3.
Warm from the win against Rhode Island, the Spartans hit the ground running to start off the ball game against Portland State and never looked back.
Right off the bat, Brittany Abacherli blasted a home run in the top of the first, bringing home Casey Watt and Kristen Heffley with her to give the Spartans an early 3-0 lead.
SJSU had a field day in the top of the fifth. Alexandra Luna singled down the Lf line, allowing Abacherli to score 4-0. With that, the Vikings’ pitcher Emma Detamore was replaced with Elena Cook.
The Spartans liked what they tasted from Cook and scored four more runs in the fifth, one of which was scored by Chelsea Jenner off of an error.
The Spartans are now 2-1 in the GCU Invitational, and will wrap up the tournament Feb. 25th against Portland State at 9 a.m. and look for revenge against Grand Canyon University at 11:30 a.m.
