By Nick Romeo — Reporter
San Jose State won both games in different ways in its doubleheader home opener against Canisius College, extending its winning streak to nine.
It was win No. 400 for head coach Peter Turner, and was finished in dominating fashion. The win was followed by a blowout 8-0 game that was over by the fifth inning.
Despite the great individual accomplishment, Turner made the milestone all about the team.
“It means a lot for this program and what we’ve built here,” Turner said. “We’ve built this into a top-notch program, and that’s far above everything is what I’m proud of.”
The bats were buzzing for the Spartans right from the start, scoring three runs in the first inning and never looking back. Shannon Haddad (6-1) was impressive once again in the circle throwing a two-hit shutout while striking out 10 across five innings of work.
Game two was another story for SJSU as they trailed until Janessa Lozano tied the game with her first career home run to make it 1-1 in the fifth inning.
The game was dramatic from start to finish as the Spartans survived a seventh-inning-error. SJSU failed to execute a pickoff, which allowed a run to score giving the Griffins a 2-1 lead.
“We work on picks all the time,” Turner said. “That’s our number one defensive play that gets us out of jams. Hopefully we learned from our mistakes.”
The pitching for both teams was impressive as the game lasted until the ninth inning. SJSU won on a bases-loaded walk-off single by centerfielder Makayla Englestad who remained poised in the big moment.
“I was just thinking I need to put the ball in play,” Englestad said. “I just wanted to make good, solid contact.”
Englestad was a catalyst for SJSU at the top of the batting order. She finished the game 3-for-5 with one RBI and a stolen base.
The Spartans (9-2) finish the three-game series against Canisius (3-4) at home on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Follow Nick on Twitter @nromeo12
