By Daniel Reedy:
In undoubtedly the most crucial series of the Mountain West Conference season, the top two teams will finally have at it this weekend with the title on the line.
The Spartans are two games back from first place, but with the upcoming series against Utah State, they have an opportunity to jump to the top spot in the conference.
San Jose State (32-15, 12-6 in MW) hosts the Aggies (32-12, 14-6 in MW) for a three-game set this weekend and the winner of the series would be in excellent position to win the conference as the season enters its final weeks.
“We need to win,” senior Casey Watt said simply.
Watt and the Spartans have been on a roll. SJSU has won five in a row and nine of the team’s last 10 games — thanks to success on both sides of the diamond.
The Spartan offense has especially been clicking. Last weekend, SJSU scored 24 runs with 40 hits in the three-game set against the New Mexico Lobos. The team went exactly 40 for 100 in the three games.
UNM allowed three homers, one of which came in Game 3 off the bat of Brittany Abacherli and ended up the game-winning hit. Abacherli has had a disappointing season coming back from a foot injury last winter but has heating up at the right time. She went 4 for 9 with four walks against the Lobos. Abacherli also scored three runs and had three RBIs.
Emma Entzminger also whacked a home run, her first of the season.
“Honestly, I was just swinging for that one,” Entzminger said.
She also pointed out that the last home run she hit was during her freshman year in the same stadium in Albuquerque.
The third Spartan dinger of the weekend was roped by second baseman Cassidy Clark in Game 2. Clark was a base short of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with two doubles in addition to the home run. She finished the game with four RBIs. Fellow freshman middle infielder Georgia Blair also went 4 for 5.
After Katelyn Linford and Collette Riggs gave up a combined five runs in the first inning of Game 1, they allowed just three earned runs the rest of the sweep.
With both pitchers throwing well, there isn’t necessarily one ace for the Aggies to prepare for above the other.
Although Linford has over twice as many wins and leads the conference in strikeouts, Riggs maintains a better ERA, currently tied for the conference lead at 2.24. Their opposing batting averages have little disparity at .234 for Linford and .235 for Riggs.
But as they face the power-hitting Aggies, Linford and Riggs may have met their match.
Utah State leads the conference with 44 home runs, 10 of which were hit by senior Victoria Saucedo. Fellow seniors Paxton Provost and Sydney Hart each have seven. Freshman outfielder Riley Plogger leads the Aggies in batting at .394.
Much like the Spartans, Utah State’s pitching staff also boasts a pair of star arms. Senior April Brown (13-4) is seventh in the MW with a 2.65 ERA, is fourth in opposing batting average at .227 and is fifth in Ks. Freshman Kellie White (17-5) has been just as good, owning a .219 opposing batting average, ranking is sixth in strikeouts and is tied with Riggs for the conference lead in ERA.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, since they still do not have a true home field, the graduating class will have to hold their Senior Day celebration off-site.
In another unconventional move, SJSU’s honoring of the seniors will be Saturday, following Game 2 of the series, rather than after Game 3 on Sunday.
After this weekend, the Aggies conference schedule will be complete with just one more game against BYU to close out their season. The Spartans still have a three-game set with UNLV the following weekend, but need to win at least two games against Utah State to have a shot at the Mountain West title.
“It’s the little things that will make the difference,” said Spartans head coach Peter Turner. “I think [the Spartans] have done a good job, I think my staff has done a good job … we should be ready”
Game 1 begins Friday at noon at Mission College.
