San Jose, Calif. -- San Jose State baseball left nine runners on base in a close 2-1 loss to San Francisco (USF) at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday night. The Dons scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice to the second baseman.
All of the Spartans' season-low five hits came in the first three innings. Sheldon Daquioag, in his first-career start behind the plate, hit an RBI-single in the second inning to give San Jose State the 1-0 lead.
Jason Kafka threw a strong 5.0 innings allowing one run and striking out five in his first career start for the Spartans. Kafka was pulled in the sixth inning with no outs after walking USF's Justin Maffei and hitting Jason Mahood. Three batters later, David Wayne Russo issued a bases-loaded walk that scored Maffei and tied the game at one.
"I think this was a bright spot for Kafka," said Spartans' head coach Dave Nakama. "He threw a good breaking ball today and that should build some confidence."
San Jose State tried to answer in their half of the sixth when Dons' reliever Hayden Hinkle loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batsmen. But Ricky Acosta popped out to the second basemen to end the threat.
Kyle Hassna took the loss for the Spartans after allowing a run on two hits in the eighth. Hassna fell to 1-2 on the year. Andrew Pulido started the game for USF, giving up one run on five hits in three innings. The reliever Hinkle moved to 2-0 earning the win for the Dons.
"We're allowing the other team to get in some good situations with walks and hit batters," Nakama said. "Too many free bases right now. We also need to get some more timely hits."
San Jose State, now loser of six straight, hits the road to face UC Santa Barbara in a weekend three-game series starting Friday, March 1 at 2 p.m. PST.