By Casey Geier:
After starting its first game of the season on a high note, San Jose State dropped the end of a back-to-back to Western Michigan 5-1 in the Kajikawa Classic.
The Spartans failed to capitalize on scoring positions, going just 1-9 with runners on base and 0-5 with runners in scoring position.
The only run SJSU earned came in the bottom of the third when SS Mackenzie Drake crossed the plate after a throwing error by Broncos’ third baseman Kelsea Cichocki.
Both teams struggled to hit the ball accurately, each going a mere 4-24 at the plate.. The Broncos did their scoring on big plays with a two-run homer in the top of the third and a sacrifice fly and RBI double in the top of the sixth. The Spartans, unlike Western Michigan, were unable to make plays when they had players in scoring positions.
Colette Riggs was the starting pitcher for the Spartans following Katelyn Linford’s impressive 10-strikeout game against Creighton in the earlier game. She pitched well despite the loss, playing just over five innings with two earned runs and five strikeouts.
Western Michigan got the scoring going, putting up two runs in the third, but SJSU got one back in the bottom half in the inning.
From there on, the game went scoreless until the 6th inning when the Broncos scored twice. They tacked on one more in the 7th, scoring their fifth and final run.
SJSU has a quick turnaround as they play a nationally ranked Oregon team tomorrow.
The Spartans will face the Ducks at 9:00 a.m.as well as the University of Utah at 11:45 a.m.