By Daniel Reedy:
After a disappointing series loss to Colorado State the previous weekend, a three-game sweep was exactly the bounce-back effort San Jose State (27-14, 7-5 in MW) needed.
The Spartans’ shutdown pitching and timely hitting, propelled SJSU to victories of 6-2, 1-0 and 3-1 over Boise State this past weekend. SJSU is now in second place in the Mountain West
“[The series against the Broncos] was a very critical series,” said Spartan head coach Peter Turner. “We could not afford not to win the series … Once we won the series to have enough guts to go out and really go and get [Game 3] … I [am] really proud of [the Spartans].”
Most of the credit goes to the two main arms in the Spartan staff — Katelyn Linford and Collette Riggs.
Linford (17-6) won twice this weekend, throwing 14 innings in which she allowed just one earned run. The conference’s Ks leader struck out 13 and allowed just one baserunner per inning. After the two starts, Linford boasts a 2.30 ERA and 5.96 K/BB ratio.
Riggs (7-3) was just as impressive, throwing a two-hit shutout in Game 2. She struck out seven and improved her opponent’s batting average to .213.
The fielding wasn’t great for SJSU as the Spartans gave up two unearned runs in Game 1 and finished the opening contest with three errors. In Game 2, the defense made one error but continued to improve, committing zero in the final game.
Still, the Spartans have made the least errors in the conference
“I am really pleased with the defense, I am pleased with the pitching and the hitting needs to come alive,” Turner said.
No kidding.
The Spartans obviously scored enough runs to sweep the series, but the Bronco staff shut out SJSU in 14 of the Spartans’ 18 ups.
SJSU put up 6 runs in Game 1, but stranded 6 runners — 3 of them stranded by Madison Aurin. Brittany Abacherli, Cassidy Clark and Chelsea Jenner each had two hits. Clark led the way with 3 RBIs.
In the following two games, the Spartans managed just 6 hits — one of them being Aurin’s redemption as she clobbered a three-run, game-winning homer Saturday in the 3-1 victory.
SJSU’s offense was the among the conference’s best last season, but this year’s lineup has dropped to fifth in runs scored and batting average.
The Spartans offense will look to take some of the pressure off the pitching as SJSU heads down Interstate 5 to face rival Fresno State (25-17, 5-6 in MW) for a three-game series.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.