By Sara Biela (@sarabielaa ):
Madison Aurin tossed a complete game with a career-high six strikeouts in San Jose State softball’s 5-2 win over San Diego State University.
The Spartans (17-9, 1-0 MW) limited the Aztecs (9-18, 0-1 MW) to three hits for their first conference win of the season.
“My down balls were working really well today,” said Aurin. “I kept telling myself to keep the ball down, get my offspeed in there and keep them off balanced.”
SJSU got on the board first with four of its five runs in the second inning.
Freshman third baseman Rayhona Sagapolu reached on an error that allowed senior center fielder Brittany Abacherli to cross the plate for the first run.
Catcher Alyssa Avila quickly gave the Spartans a 4-0 lead with a three-run homer off SDSU’s sophomore starting pitcher Marissa Moreno.
“I think it was a rise ball. She had thrown it to me a couple times in the at-bat,” said the junior. “I kept fouling them off and I knew I had to get on top of one.”
Senior designated hitter Taylor Stewart gave the Aztecs their first hit of the game with a single in the fifth inning.
Sophomore second baseman Cassidy Clark gave SJSU another run in the bottom half of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to left that made 5-0.
Not only giving her team their first hit of the game, Stewart spoiled Aurin’s shutout with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh and made it 5-2.
Aurin struck out six and walked one to earn her sixth win on the year.
“We played all three facets fairly well,” said head coach Peter Turner. “I was really pleased with the way they looked, especially today.”
If weather corporates, the series continues tomorrow with game two at Mission College in Santa Clara.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.