Reina Zermeno hit a grand slam for the San José State softball team on April 19, putting the Spartans ahead in the sixth inning before ultimately falling 7-6 to Utah State in their series finale at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field.
The game saw Utah State take an early lead with two runs in the second inning. In the third, Carly Cummings singled to center field and was followed by walks from Zermeno and Leata Sherlin. With bases loaded and two outs, Shay McDowell delivered a single up the middle, scoring both Zermeno and Sherlin to tie the game at 2-2. Utah State regained their lead with a run in the bottom of that inning.
Both teams went scoreless through the fourth and fifth innings. The momentum shifted again in the top of the sixth when Samantha Kulak, Gigi Ortega, and Cummings walked to load the bases. After a ten-pitch at-bat with two outs, Zermeno hit her grand slam to right field, giving San José State a 6-3 advantage.
Utah State responded quickly with a grand slam of their own later that inning, securing their comeback win at 7-6. This marked Zermeno’s second consecutive game collecting four runs batted in (RBIs), her third such game this season, and fifth overall during her career. The home run was also her twenty-fifth career homerun.
McDowell collected two RBIs in each contest against Utah State while Sophia Burdick and McDowell each had two hits during Sunday’s matchup. Ahmiya Noriega, Haley Reeve, Ortega, Sherlin, and Cummings all contributed one hit apiece.
Looking ahead, San José State will host its final homestand of the season with a three-game series against New Mexico beginning Friday, April 24. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., available for viewing on Mountain West Network.
