By Briannah McGee – Spear Reporter | Junior Carly Cummings takes the plate before adding another base hit (Photo by Zoe Woodward – The Spear)
San Jose State softball (11-21, 3-6 MW) closed out its three-game series against the University of Nevada in Reno with a tough 9-3 loss, as the Wolf Pack secured the series finale behind a dominant fourth inning.
The Spartans showed early life, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning to take a brief lead.
Their offense was sparked by freshman utility player Leata Sherlin, who had an outstanding performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs.
Sherlin’s efforts provided a strong offensive presence for SJSU and accounted for most of the team’s scoring.
However, the momentum quickly shifted in the bottom of the fourth inning when Nevada erupted for seven runs.
That inning proved to be the turning point of the game, as the Wolf Pack capitalized on key hits and took advantage of Spartan pitching struggles to build a commanding lead.
Despite attempts to respond, SJSU was unable to slow Nevada’s offense or regain control of the game.
The Spartans managed to add one more run in the final inning, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Nevada maintained control through the later innings, holding SJSU to just three total runs.
While the loss was disappointing, Sherlin’s standout performance was a bright spot for the Spartans, highlighting her consistency and power at the plate.
The game ultimately underscored the importance of limiting big innings, as Nevada’s explosive fourth inning made the difference in the series finale ending with one win and two losses to the Wolf Pack.
The Spartans will look to get back in the win column at 6 p.m. on Thursday,back at home against Fresno State.
