By Larry Larkin (@larrylarkinsjsu) – Spear Reporter
Aubrie Thomas sliding home to extend the Spartans lead. I Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
The bats came out swinging Friday as San Jose State softball (17-27, 6-14 MW) defeated Utah State (22-27, 5-16 MW) 7-6 on the road in the second game of a three-game series. It is the Spartans’ second win in as many days.
The Spartans got their bats going and it was led by junior Aubrie Thomas, who hit two home runs and went 2-for-4.
SJSU entered Friday’s game as the worst hitting team in the Mountain West Conference in terms of total hits and second worst in batting average. It concluded the game tying its season-high with 13 hits with five players having multi-hit days.
“Just a phenomenal job with the hitters today at the plate,” SJSU softball head coach Tammy Lohmann said in a video posted to the SJSU Athletics website. “Great win for the Spartans today against Utah State taking them 7-6 today.”
SJSU started the third inning with a home run by Thomas, cutting its deficit to 3-1. It was her second home run in two games.
Later that inning, the Aggies didn’t go away as they scored two runs to increase their lead to 5-1.
The fourth inning was a big one for the Spartans as they recorded five hits in their four-run inning.
Thomas’ three-run home run in the fourth inning, her second home run of the game, tied the game for SJSU.
The game was back and forth as Utah State took a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning before relinquishing it.
The Spartans would pull ahead for the final time in the sixth inning when sophomore Reina Zermeno hit a two-run home run. Zermeno went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one walk.
Junior pitcher Mia Reynolds entered the game on the mound in the fifth inning for the Spartans, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings and giving up zero runs to seal the win.
The Spartans will aim to end their season by sweeping the Aggies Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.