Spartans go 4-1 at Silicon Valley Classic

By Oscar Frias-Rivera SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The San Jose State Softball team won four of five games at home at the Silicon Valley Classic I, the past weekend.

The Spartans took down Saint Mary’s College twice, California State University, Sacramento and the University of Northern Colorado, but lost in the final game against the University of California, Santa Barbara.

On Friday, SJSU went up against Saint Mary’s and beat them 1-0 in seven innings.

It was an offensive struggle for most of the game as the Spartans’ lone run came on a Gaels’ error in the fourth inning.

Saint Mary’s catcher Jenavee Amador attempted to throw out SJSU redshirt junior infielder Karizma Bergesen as she tried to steal second base, but ended up throwing the ball away. Sophomore infielder Taylor Squires advanced to home plate and scored the only run for the Spartans.

Immediately after winning a hardfought game against Saint Mary’s, the Spartans played Northern Colorado, wrecking them 7-0.

Freshman infielder Ahmiya

Noriega was SJSU best hitter on the field as she batted 3 of 4 and scored an RBI. Senior infielder

Alyssa Graham helped secure the victory going 2 for 4 with an RBI while hitting a triple for the first time.

Sophomore pitcher Lacie Ham pitched a shutout against the Bears, recording 6 strikeouts and allowing just 5 hits in 7 innings.

“Just a phenomenal job by the team. The energy level, coming out and swinging the bats,” said SJSU head coach Tammy Lohmann after both victories on Friday “They are changing their focus and really trying to find their true identity as a team.”

With the two wins, the Spartans had three shutouts in a row for the first time in three seasons.

“I want the same focus and the same coming out and competing [Saturday’s games,]” said Lohmann. The Spartans were up against the Gaels again in their first game Saturday.

SJSU secured its second win over the Gaels, winning 15-7 in five innings.

“We are finding ways to compete at the plate. We’re swinging and running aggressively and our pitchers are doing the job at the mound,” Lohmann said after their second win over Saint Mary’s.

In a high scoring game, the Gaels scored 5 runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead. The Spartans bounced back and had a big scoring run of their own in the fifth inning, scoring 7 runs and taking home a win.

Noriega managed to lead again in this game with an inside the park home run while going 2 for 3 with three runs scored.

The next matchup for the Spartans was Sacramento State. Through the first two innings, no team had a hit.

The Hornets took the early lead in the third with two runs, but the Spartans bounced back immediately by scoring three runs led by

Bergesen, who went 2 for 2 at the plate with an RBI.

With the momentum shifted, redshirt senior Jenessa Ullegue led the Spartans in pitching, only allowing two runs and three hits in one of her best pitching games of the season.

The Spartans went on a six hit run to end the game in the 5th inning to win 10-4.

In the final matchup Sunday, the Spartans were up against the Gauchos but lost 9-4 and went 4-1 in the SVC.

“Gotta be a little bit more competitive today especially on Sunday. Sunday is always a challenge in the tournament… It’s just the grind on Sunday. And we did not show up today,” said Lohmann.

The Spartans are scheduled to be at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton from March 3-5. They will face California State University, Fullerton, Louisiana State University, the University of Oregon, Seattle University and Cal Poly University.