By Ryan Barnhart:
Following their first ever NCAA Tournament win, the Spartans dropped their second game of the tournament in a 10-2 loss to UCLA.
Starter Collette Riggs was shaky from the get-go, giving up a run in the first inning on a pair of walks and deep fly balls that centerfielder Brittany Abacherli was able to track down, preventing any further damage. Riggs’ day was finished in just the second inning after surrendering a leadoff double.
After taking Riggs out, coach Peter Turner gave the ball to Katelyn Linford. Despite a dominating performance on Thursday, Linford gave up her first pair of runs of the tournament in the second on a two-run homer from Bruin Delaney Spaulding, increasing UCLA’s lead to 4-0.
Linford struggled through the rest of the game, with the long ball hurting her the most. The star pitcher conceded four home runs to the Bruins before being pulled in the top of the sixth. She ended the game allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits.
The Spartan offense was stifled for most of the game. While SJSU’s batters were patient, leading to six walks by UCLA pitchers, the Spartans managed just four hits and two runs through six innings. The game ended in the bottom of the sixth due to the run rule.
With the loss this afternoon, SJSU moves into the elimination bracket. The team will have to take on the winner of the matchup between CSU Fullerton and Lehigh for a chance at facing UCLA again Sunday and claiming the Los Angeles Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening.
