Stockton, Calif. -- San Jose State had nine hits but made three errors and left the bases loaded twice in an 8-1 loss to the University of the Pacific (UOP) in the finale of a three game set in Stockton, Calif.
Jacob Valdez, Nick Schulz and Dane Lund all had multi-hit games for the Spartans. Valdez's RBI-double off the right field wall in the eighth inning accounted for San Jose State's lone run.
"We didn't take good advantage with guys on base today," said head coach Dave Nakama. "The opportunities were there, but we just didn't take advantage of them."
Dustin Torchio hit a towering solo homerun just inside the right field foul pole to get the scoring started for the Tigers in the fourth inning. It was San Jose State starter D.J. Slaton's only earned run given up on the afternoon. Slaton exited the game after five complete, giving up six hits and an earned run while walking two.
"He pitched well enough for us to win," said Nakama. "He did a good job. I think it's different if we can give him some run support and some early runs."
San Jose State missed opportunities for runs in the fourth and sixth innings when it had bases loaded and less than two out.
In the fourth inning with the score 1-0, three consecutive singles by Valdez, Schulz and Matt Lopez loaded the bags with one out for designated hitter Matt Carroll. Carroll grounded into a 6-4-3 double-play to end the Spartans' half inning. Both Lopez and Carroll had chances with bases loaded in the sixth, but popped out to shortstop and flew out to center field respectively.
With Jason Kafka pitching in relief the Tigers put up a three-run sixth inning that included an RBI-triple by Tyger Pederson to put Pacific up 5-0. The Tigers would tack on three more runs (one earned) against Willy Reel in the eighth, making it 8-1. The Spartans had two more fielding errors in the inning.
For the series, San Jose State takes two out of three from pacific. The Spartans improve their all-time record against Pacific to 86-75. Schulz started all three games in right field and went 6-for-13 (.462) with three RBI and two runs scored. Valdez also tallied three RBI for the series and went 5-for-9 (.556) as the starting second baseman.
"Anytime to take two out of three, that's a good sign," Nakama said. "I wish we would have played better today. If we could clean up the errors it would be more satisfying, but we'll take two out of three."
San Jose State takes the field again on Wednesday, February 20 at UC Davis. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.