Northwestern Falls to San Jose State, 7-3

3/5/2016 2:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

FULLERTON, CALIF. – Northwestern briefly held a lead in its first of two games Saturday at the Judi Garman Classic, but San Jose State surged ahead in the later innings to take a 7-3 decision off the Wildcats.

Northwestern now is 7-10 overall on the season with its loss while San Jose State improves to 6-15 with its win. NU returns to action today against Judi Garman Classic hosts Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT.

San Jose State came up swinging in the top of the first, loading the bases with one out on a couple of ground ball singles through the left side of the infield along with an NU error. A wild pitch brought the game's first run home, but then senior catcher Caylor Arnold alertly picked off a runner at third to help end the rally with just a single run across.

In the top of the second, San Jose State got a one-out walk that made its way to third on a wild pitch. Midway through the next at-bat, freshman Kenzie Ellis entered to pitch in relief of starter Nicole Bond. After another walk, the Spartans attempted a double steal, but Arnold sniffed out the plate and picked off the runner at third yet again to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third, Northwestern broke through. With two outs, Sabrina Rabin singled and stole second, then Krista Williams slap-chopped a single of her own to put runners at the corners. The two Wildcats speedsters then executed a beautiful double steal to knot the game before a San Jose State error on a hard-hit Amy Letourneau ground ball allowed Williams to score for a 2-1 NU lead.

In the top of the fifth, San Jose State struck back with a two-run home run that bounced off the top of the fence in centerfield and over. After an out, the next two batters reached on a single and a double to put runners at second and third, leading to Letourneau entering the circle in relief of Ellis. One more Spartans run came in on a sacrifice fly before the inning ended with NU trailing by two, 4-2.

SJSU attempted to rally again in the sixth, getting its two leadoff batters aboard on an error and single, but Alcy Bush turned an unassisted double play at first on a line drive to help NU escape. The Wildcats could not escape the next Spartans threat, which plated three unearned runs before it was over to make NU's deficit five, 7-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brooke Marquez smoked her first home run of the season with the bases empty to make it a 7-3 game before the contest ended.

Bond went 1.2 innings in the start, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Ellis (1-2) took the loss in relief, going 2.2 innings and giving up three runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Letourneau threw the final 2.2 innings, giving up three unearned runs on four hits and two walks.