By Hector Roldan (@HectorRSJSU) – Spear Reporter
Sophomore first baseman Shay McDowell in preparation for a game against Cal Poly. | Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
San Jose State (9-11, 0-1 MW) lost 6-5 to New Mexico (8-21, 1-0 MW) in the eighth inning after coming back from an early deficit. This game put the Spartans two games back of .500 in its loss.
“Our errors were costly,” SJSU head coach Tammy Lohmann said. “We have to find a way to contain them and not let them combine on top of each other.”
Errors played a costly role for San Jose State as it had four fielding errors. Three of these came in the first inning that helped the Lobos to get out to an early lead. Starting pitcher Lacie Ham recorded just two outs and couldn’t make it out of the inning.
Freshman pitcher Alexis Toner came in relief for Ham, throwing 7 1/3 innings and recording two strikeouts. Toner would ultimately finish the game for the Spartans.
SJSU came back scoring three runs on a bases-clearing triple from center fielder Aubrie Thomas in the fifth inning.
Sophomore Shay McDowell had a good day at the plate with two hits including a triple in the bottom of the sixth where she would score the game-tying run.
“We do better when we’re very high energy and chirpy. It made our hitting more contagious,” said McDowell said. “As long as we start with that energy, we should be successful.”
“Coach Tammy[Lohmann] said it best, that we gave them that game and we need to work on keeping the errors down to a minimum,” McDowell said.
The Spartans will continue their home stand Saturday against New Mexico with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.