By Iber Moreno – Spear Reporter
Jules Ronquillo being coached by assistant coach Yasmin Mossadeghi before taking an at bat. I Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
So doubleheaders may not be its thing. San Jose State softball were mercy-ruled in both games part of a doubleheader last Friday against Boise State. These losses would then make for a five-game losing streak that has since been broken.
Game One
San Jose State softball (11-14, 2-1 MW) took a tough loss to Boise State (21-13, 1-2 MW) in the first of a three-game series on Friday afternoon with a shutout score of 8-0, ending the game in the fifth inning at Huber field in Boise, ID.
This is the Spartans’ fourth loss in a row after getting swept by LMU last week and were hoping to bounce back this week against the Broncos. They’ve now only scored five runs in four games that involve doubleheaders.
Boise State senior Taylor Caudill pitched a gem only allowing two hits all game and guided Boise State to the victory.
Those two hits came from sophomore Ahmiya Noriega and sophomore Reina Zermeno, who both went 1 for 2 with a single.
Junior Lacie Ham entered the third inning only giving up two hits and one run but it was not enough to stop the Broncos the rest of the game. The early damage had already been done.
Game Two
San Jose State softball (11-15, 2-2 MW) dropped another loss to Boise State (22-13, 2-2 MW) in the second game of the doubleheader with a score of 12-4.
Ham would start the second game on the mound but be pulled without receiving an out. Four runs were on the board for Boise State in the blink of an eye.
San Jose State would score its first run of the series in the second inning via Noriega. She would would rip a single down the left-field line, steal second and then be driven in by a Malia Luna single.
“Love how the team responded after the first game and came up in the middle half of the game, put four runs against them, just got to work on little things tomorrow got to come out more hungry and focused”, Tammy Lohmann softball head coach.
Junior pitcher Mia Reynolds held the Broncos scoreless through the second and third innings to keep the Spartans in the game but would give up eight runs through the game.
The Spartans would score three runs in the fourth inning to make it a one-run contest with two runs coming off a Boise State error. The error, followed by a walk, would result in the bases loaded for Ashley Rico. Rico would lineout to shortstop ending the rally.
Earned or not, SJSU was back in the game but the momentum was gone.
The Broncos would pounce on Reynolds and score seven unanswered runs to force another mercy rule. Reynolds would finish with giving up eight earned runs and walking four batters.
Unfortunately for San Jose State, its next games are a doubleheader against Fresno State on Wednesday. Fresno State does feature the second-worst batting average in the Mountain West in-conference play. An opportunity for SJSU pitchers to bounce back.