SOFTBALL’S WINNING STREAK COMES TO A CLOSE AT SAN JOSE STATE

3/25/2008

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose State’s Kelli Fangonilo’s three-run triple in the second inning proved to be the game-winning hit as the Spartans defeated Sacramento State, 4-3, in a non-conference softball game Tuesday afternoon at SJSU Stadium.

With the victory, San Jose State improved to 19-19 overall and 2-1 against the Hornets this season. Sacramento State had its six-game winning streak snapped while dropping to 18-12 overall. The Hornets have still won eight of their last 10, and do not play again until hosting fifth-ranked Stanford on Wednesday, April 2.

San Jose State scored four runs in the second inning off Hornet starter Kayla Meeks, and Spartan starter Roxanne Bejarano made the lead hold up. All four Spartan runs in the second came after two outs were recorded as a bases-loaded walk to Sarah Taylor was followed up by Fangonilo’s bases-clearing triple.

Meeks was then replaced in the inning by sophomore Brittani Clifford, who allowed just two hits the rest of the way in relief. Unfortunately for the Hornets, those four runs were enough to get San Jose State the victory.

After failing to get a runner past second base in each of the first four innings, Sacramento State was finally able to push across three runs in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Jamie Schloredt hit a fly ball to left fielder Elizabeth Perez who misplayed the ball into a three-run error. However, Bejarano was able to get Izmena Cabrera to fly out and end the inning. She then retired six of the final seven batters she faced to improve to 6-9 this season.

Senior Amy Tompkins had four of the Hornets’ six hits as the shortstop finished the game 4-for-4 with a run, and improved her season batting average to .292. Meeks (8-5) had her streak of three consecutive wins snapped as the right-hander allowed five hits and four runs over 1.2 innings. Clifford, who has consistently been dominant in a relief role, allowed just two hits while walking none and striking out six over 4.1 innings. She has now allowed no runs in eight of her last nine appearances.

Meeks (double) and Jenice Bartee (single) had the Hornets’ other hits. Senior Hilary Johnson went 0-for-2 and had her career-high nine-game hitting streak snapped.

Sacramento State’s game against Stanford next Wednesday will mark the sixth ranked opponent the team will play this year.