San Jose, Calif. - San Jose State had the winning run on base in a ninth inning rally against crosstown rival Santa Clara, but was unable to bring home the runner, falling 2-1.
Andre Mercurio was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning for the Spartans, down 2-0. After a fielder's choice moved him to second, Tim Quiery walked and represented the tying run at first base. Two batters later, a Jacob Valdez RBI-single with two outs scored Mercurio from second to make the score 2-1.
Valdez's single was the second hit of the game for the Spartans and the first since Sheldon Daquioag's single in the second inning.
Daquioag, hitting .462 this season, stepped up to the plate next with runners on first and second and two out. With two strikes, Daquioag bounced into a fielder's choice to the shortstop that cut Valdez down at second and ended the game.
"We had the same group out there that scored nine runs yesterday," said San Jose State head coach Dave Nakama. "Today, they were silent. We just need to have more competitive at bats."
Santa Clara starter Tommy Nance had retired 18 consecutive Spartan hitters before giving up a couple of harmless walks in the eighth inning. Nance earned the win and moved to 2-1 on the year for his 8.0 innings of one-hit ball.
D.J. Slaton started the game for San Jose State and pitched 6.0 innings allowing three hits and two earned runs. The Broncos pushed a run across in the first inning against Slaton on a fielder's choice hit by Casey Munoz.
Greg Harisis' RBI-double scoring Drew Ozanne in the sixth inning put the Broncos up 2-0 and turned out to be the game-winning run.
The win for Santa Clara (8-8) gives them the series, two games to one, and drops San Jose State's overall record to 4-11.
The Spartans go on the road to face Cal Poly on March 12 before returning home for a four-game set against Nicholls State.