San Jose, Calif. -- Matt Carroll blasted one high and deep over the left field wall for a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give San Jose State a 3-2 victory over Nicholls State on Friday night at Municipal Stadium.
SWING AND A DRIVE
"Coach had me take a strike, and I saw the fastball I wanted," said Carroll. "He happened to throw it again and I got my hands inside the ball and hit it well."
It was the Gilroy, Calif., native's first career home run and San Jose State's first of the 2013 season. Carroll crossed home plate and the Spartans bounced as victors for the first time in extra innings this season in three tries.
"It's such a great thing for Matt," said head coach Dave Nakama. "He's been hitting the ball hard the last couple of weeks. Now we know what it feels like to be on the other side of a walk-off."
After giving up a run in the first inning, the Spartans answered back with a run of their own. Carroll's first hit of the evening put Jacob Valdez at third base where he would score from one batter latter on Nick Schulz's sacrifice fly.
SWING AND A MISS
Working in the 1-1 tie, Spartan starter Johnny Melero struck out four batters in a row during the third and fourth innings. The left-hander finished the game with a career-high eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. Two of the eight got Melero out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the first inning.
"Our pitching was great," said Nakama. "Both guys threw well and did a good job holding runners on."
Kyle Hassna entered the game in the eighth inning and proceeded to strike out a career-high seven batters over the final 3.2 innings of the game. He struck out five Colonels in the 10th and 11th innings combined and moved to 2-3 with the win.
HOT BATS
Valdez was in on the action again in the fourth inning knocking in Sheldon Daquioag with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-1 Spartans. Daquioag had three hits in the game, making him 13-for-26 (.500) for the season. He has registered a hit in all seven games in which he has appeared.
Andre Mercurio was hitless in the last three games, but came up with four singles in tonight's contest. Kalei Contrades also had a multi-hit game as the starting third baseman.
San Jose State's record improves to 5-12 with the win where the Spartans collected 13 hits. The Spartans have had double-digit hits in four of the last five games.
THE SERIES CONTINUES
The four-game series between San Jose State and Nicholls State (9-10) continues tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
David Wayne Russo (2-2, 4.64) will face Kory Delange (3-1, 2.16) in the first game. Jason Kafka (1-0, 5.71) takes on Grant Bourne (0-0, 1.64) in the second game.