By Levern Johnson (@inkedjournalist) – Spear Reporter
Makenzie Hutchinson anticipating to catch | Tyler Castillo – The Spear
SJSU softball (19-21, 7-7 MW) took on the Fresno State Bulldogs (16-23, 5-6 MW) in a doubleheader and ended with two Spartan wins in central California.
In the first game, San Jose State got off to an early start in the first inning after junior catcher Makenzie Hutchinson hit an RBI to bring home freshman infielder Ahmiya Noriega.
The Bulldogs responded quickly, scoring two runs of their own to take the lead, but Noriega crossed home plate tying the game 2-2.
From there, both teams scored one more run bringing the score to 3-3, forcing extra innings where the Spartans went up for good to seal the win.
After Hutchinson doubled and redshirt senior infielder Alyssa Graham walked, freshman infielder Reina Zermeno knocked a double to right center, leading the Spartans to a 5-3 win.
Redshirt senior pitcher Jenessa Ullegue pitched seven of the nine innings, finishing with six strikeouts en route to her 10th win.
SJSU softball win second game behind the Bulldogs lack of run
In the second game of the doubleheader between San Jose State and Fresno State, the Bulldogs fell short for the second time on the day 2-1.
Surprisingly, the game got off to a cold start after the first game went back and forth.
San Jose State put the first runs on the board in the fourth inning behind junior outfielder Ashley Rico’s RBI double down the left-field line, bringing home redshirt junior infielder/outfielder Adrianna Noriega and Ullegue.
Freshman infielder Emma Martinez landed on base three different times and scored the only Fresno State run in the fifth inning.
As a team, Bulldogs finished with 8 hits on the night. However, their one run for the game put them on the losing side.
The Spartans starting sophomore pitcher Lacie Ham started at pitcher, finishing with six strikeouts on the way to her sixth win.
SJSU softball heads back home to take on Mountain West rival Boise State Saturday at 3 p.m.