By Daniel Reedy:
A three-run rally in the seventh inning wasn’t enough for San Jose State in the first of a three-game series against Colorado State (17-12, 5-5 in MW).
The Spartans (23-13, 3-4 in MW) lost 5-4 to the Rams after failing to complete the seventh-inning comeback. In the previous six frames, SJSU managed just two hits and one run against winning pitcher Kaylynn Pierce (8-1) who tossed a complete game, her fifth of the season.
“We made bad, bad decisions at the plate,” said Spartans head coach Peter Turner. “The pitcher wasn’t a dominating pitcher … I’m very disappointed.”
Brittany Abacherli went down looking on a questionable call to begin the final ups with the Spartans trailing by four. Casey Watt followed with a triple off the wall in right. Madison Aurin whacked a single to score Watt. Today’s cleanup hitter Alyssa Avila didn’t make solid contact, popping up an easy out. Cassidy Clarke kept SJSU alive, slicing a single into left and, with two outs.
Turner then turned to Georgia Blair for a pinch hit. Blair whiffed on two outside pitches but pounded the third offering into right center for a two-run single, scoring the Spartans’ third and fourth runs. But that would be all for SJSU as Chelsea Jenner failed to continue her hot streak, grounding into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Avila struggled at the plate out of the No. 4 spot, going 0 for 4 but made an impact on the defensive side. She caught Colorado State’s Taryn Arcarese with too long of a lead and gunned her down at first base.
“Normally we call those,“ Avila said. “ [I] just saw a perfect opportunity to get us out of bind.”
Earlier in the game, Avila fielded a bunt and fired the ball across the diamond to Emma Entzminger for the out second to foil the sacrifice play.
“Honestly, I couldn’t even see the runner,” Avila said. “I got some help from the coaches, and was able to get the lead runner.”
Later in the inning, Avila threw out Rams pinch runner Sierra Galbreath at second to end the third.
Avila was hitting cleanup in place of Blair who was resting with an illness, but that didn’t stop Blair from roping the two RBIs in the seventh inning.
“It was pretty nerve racking,” Blair said. “But just to get the opportunity out there with runners on base … I enjoyed it.”
Entzminger slid from third to shortstop with Blair on the bench and Daisy Conchas got the start at the hot corner. Conchas went 0 for 2 and has only one hit this season. Entzminger beat the throw on a bunt single in the third inning, ending the day 1 for 2.
The Spartans finished 6 for 27 today in what was “six uninspiring innings followed by one inspired inning” according to Turner.
“I expect them to have better bats than that,” Turner said.
Starter Katelyn Linford (15-5) started her 19th game of the season, taking the loss after giving up two earned runs in 4⅓ innings. A performance such as this is below what most have come to expect from the four-time Mountain West Pitcher of the Week winner who carried a sub-2.00 ERA for much of the season.
“It’s not like she’s tired or weak, it’s between the ears right now,” Turner said of Linford.
Turner said Linford shook off several pitches, which he said was a “tell-tale sign that she is questioning things.”
Her catcher Avila echoed the concerns
“She needs to have more confidence,” Avila said. “She shook off a few pitches, she needs to have confidence from us, all of us, to help her out.”
Linford still has a 2.34 ERA and not far behind is Collette Riggs who relieved Linford in the fourth inning. Riggs plunked a hitter in both of her first two innings but left unscathed. In the seventh however, she gave up a two-strike, two-run home run that ended up being the difference-maker.
The seventh-inning homer was launched by Hannah McCorkhill, scoring Haley Hutton who went 3 for 4 today.
First pitch for Game 2 is scheduled for 12 p.m. tomorrow as the Spartans look to “come out firing” according to Blair.