By Daniel Reedy:
Prior to this weekend’s series, senior outfielder Casey Watt said the Spartans had to win two games against the Aggies.
They did just that, defeating Utah State 2-1 this afternoon.
Watt answered her own call, going 5 for 7 through the first two matchups as SJSU won Games 1 and 2, clinching the series and placing them in excellent standing to take the conference championship.
Granted, the Spartans do still have tomorrow’s Game 3 against Utah State and four total games left in the season, but only need to win two more to clinch the Mountain West crown.
SJSU has now won seven in a row and 11 of the team’s last 13 games.
Credit the pitching staff, lead today by Collette Riggs’ excellent performance.
“One-hitter, she didn’t make too many mistakes,” head coach Peter Turner said. “She handled them and fought through a tightness in her arm so I am really proud of her and that’s a huge win for us.”
Riggs tossed all seven innings, giving up just the one hit and conceded zero earned runs. She allowed just three earned base runners to win her 10th game of the year.
“I feel really good,” Riggs said. “I might need a nap after this one, but I definitely feel really good. I am excited, we really needed that.”
The offense managed just two runs but that was all the Spartans needed thanks to Riggs’ dominance. SJSU was without No. 4 hitter Georgia Blair for the second game due to an ankle injury.
Still, the Spartans whacked eight hits off one of the conference’s top pitchers.
Aggie April Brown gave up both runs and was unable to strike out a single Spartan. Brown is fifth in the MW in Ks, but the Spartans — according to Emma Entzminger — “attack early in the count” and have been the least struck out team for nearly the entire season.
Entzminger scored both of the Spartans’ runs and went 1 for 2.
SJSU got another nice day out of sophomore Kristen Heffley who went 2 for 3 today after her two-RBI triple scored the game-winning run yesterday.
Outfielder Brittany Abacherli lost her hitting streak, but got the Spartans on the board with a sac-fly in the first inning.
First baseman Madison Aurin knocked in what would be the winning run in the third, doubling to right center. The hit tied her with Watt for the team lead in RBIs (27).
“Our job is not done yet, but we are one step closer,” Turner said.
Utah State will look to salvage a win as the Spartans aim to sweep in the Aggies final conference game of the year. Game 3 starts is at Mission College and first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.