Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
18-13, 6-6
San Jose State
24-14, 4-5
Recap: Rams win series, split Sunday doubleheader versus SJSU
4/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Colorado State Rams won the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at San Jose State to clinch the series victory at Mission College. The two squads ultimately split the doubleheader with the Spartans winning the final game of the weekend.
CSU (18-13, 6-6 MW) leaves the weekend with a .500 record in league play, earning its second series win in Mountain West play in 2017. SJSU (24-14, 4-5) lost its second consecutive MW series.
Colorado State - 5
San Jose State - 0
Box Score
Bridgette Hutton pitched a three-hit, complete game shutout and Madison Kilcrease hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the first inning to propel the Rams to a 5-0, series-clinching win over the Spartans in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
CSU loaded the bases with three of its first four batters in the first inning, with Haley Hutton singling to first base and both Amber Nelson and Lauren Buchanan drawing walks. Taryn Arcarese singled to left field to drive in Hutton, bringing Kilcrease to the plate.
The junior center fielder from Johnstown, Colo., had yet to hit a home run in 2017, but changed that with a dramatic inside-the-park tally down the left field line to expand CSU's lead to 5-0 after the opening frame. Kilcrease took advantage of the large outfield at Mission College, putting the ball into the left field corner and circling the bases.
It was The Bridgette Show from there on out, as CSU never added to its lead but did not need to. The sophomore only allowed three hits and eight total baserunners on her way to her second complete game shutout of the season.
Colorado State - 2
San Jose State - 3
Box Score
CSU led into the fifth inning, but SJSU rallied to take the 3-2 victory in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams recorded just three hits for the game, compared to nine by the Spartans.
CSU led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Rams got on the board in the third inning, with an RBI double by Amber Nelson followed by a Madison Kilcrease driving in Nelson with a single to left field, giving the Rams their 2-1 lead.
SJSU scored twice in the fifth to retake the lead. After scoring twice in the third, CSU only achieved one baserunner the rest of the contest.
IN THEIR WORDS…
"Our team was adaptable again this weekend. The weather forced us into another doubleheader, and we didn't let it impact us. That spark from Madison in the first inning really helped us settle in, and then we had such great ground ball defense all game." - CSU head coach Jen Fisher on the team's win to begin Sunday
"Bridgette has been making adjustments and it really showed today. Our defense were also rally-killers, with some critical doubles plays. Bridgette had a good outing, and the defense did a great job of backing her up." - Fisher on the pitching and defense that shutout SJSU in CSU's win on Sunday
NOTES…
- Madison Kilcrease's inside-the-park home run was her first homer of the season. CSU's last inside-the-parker was by Haley Hutton on March 5 of last year vs. Idaho State.
- Kilcrease had a total of 5 RBI on Sunday across CSU's two games. She had 4 total RBI for the season before Sunday.
- CSU's two MW series wins have come against teams picked second (San Diego State) and third (SJSU) in the MW preseason poll.
- Bridgette Hutton posted her second complete game shutout of 2017. CSU's starters have combined for six complete game shutouts as a staff this year.
NEXT…
CSU will return to Ram Field to play Northern Colorado on Tuesday. The two teams will resume their contest from Feb. 28, which was halted during the first inning due to weather. Tuesday's doubleheader will begin at 2:15 p.m. MT, with the originally-schedule contest beginning following the completion of the resumed contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: RIGGS (6-3)
L: Pierce, Kaylynn (8-2)
Batting:
2B: Nelson, Amber 1
RBI: Nelson, Amber 1 ; Kilcrease, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hutton, Haley 1 ; Nelson, Amber 1
SB: Hutton, Haley 1
HBP: Arcarese, Taryn 1
Batting:
2B: BLAIR 1
RBI: ABACHERLI 1 ; BLAIR 1 ; AURIN 1
SH: ENTZMINGER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WATT 1 ; CLARK 1 ; JENNER 1
SB: AURIN 1
