By Jose Garcia (@JoseDGarcia__) — Reporter
San Jose State softball welcomed Idaho State Friday, kicking off the Silicon Valley Classic II. The Spartans dropped the first game of the doubleheader 2-1. They won 5-2 after a wild sixth inning in the second game.
In game number one, the Spartans struggled to get any offense going. Bengals pitcher Haley Rainey silenced SJSU’s bats all game. Rainey was stellar as she pitched a complete game and improved her record to 7-2. She only gave up one run on seven hits and four walks and fanned eight Spartans.
SJSU’s pitching staff weren’t no slouches either. Caroline Bowman got the nod for game one and went four innings strong, only giving up one earned run. Jenessa Ullegue followed Bowman in relief, pitching three superb innings. Ullegue only allowed two base runners to reach while punching out four Bengals.
The first inning of the game looked to be disastrous for the Spartans.
Bowman and company managed to stop Idaho State from putting up a crooked number early. Back-to-back hits by the Bengals and an error on Jessica Giacoma loaded the bases with no outs. This seemed to signal impending doom. Bowman proceeded to induce a popup before walking in a run to make it 1-0. When the Spartans needed it most, they were able to turn a double play to get out the inning.
The Spartans and the Bengals scored a run apiece in the fourth inning, making it 2-1. The Spartans had a golden opportunity to tie or win the game at the bottom of the seventh. After committing the first out, they were able to string together two hits in a row. In anticlimactic fashion, SJSU committed back-to-back groundouts to end the game.
Game number two of the doubleheader was shaping up to be like game one. However, the Spartans hung a five spot in the sixth inning, winning 5-2.
The Bengals were in command for the majority of the game. They led 2-0 after four innings until things got bizarre in the sixth.
In an attempt to get something going, Taylor Squires reached on a bunt. Jules Ronquillo followed that up with a bunt of her own, which caused the Bengals third baseman to commit a costly throwing error. Brook Richards made an errant throw that went all the way to right field, which allowed both runners to score. The Spartans chances of winning were resurrected. After this, a bevy of walks and a RBI single by Jocylyn Vidal blew the game open 5-2.
The Bengals weren’t able to recover for their sixth inning collapse. Their grave error was the difference in the game. It helped inject SJSU with life when things looked bleak.
The Spartans’ next game is against Utah State on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.