Arlington, Texas - San Jose State started red hot with a four-run first inning, but let the lead slip away for a 9-7 loss in Western Athletic Conference play at UT Arlington on Sunday.
The win for the Mavericks (20-15, 9-3 WAC) makes it a three-game sweep of the Spartans (11-25, 5-7 WAC) and it is the first WAC series loss of the season for SJSU.
San Jose State took advantage of a two-run throwing error, a bases-loaded walk and a timely hit by Richie Johnson during a four-run first inning.
SJSU took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning, but surrendered the lead when UTA put up a four-run inning of their own in the third. Ryan Walker tripled to start the rally and scored on the next batter Matt Shortall's double. John Twichell and Brandon Lawrence also registered RBI in the inning.
The four-run inning was the first of eight unanswered runs for UT Arlingon, which out two runs on the board in both the fourth and the seventh.
The Spartans showed signs of a comeback in the ninth inning when Nick Schulz hit a big two-run double to make it 9-7. The Mavericks turned to Keegan Hucul to close out the ninth, which he did for his first save of the season.
Kyle Hassna in his first start of the season gave up six hits and four earned runs in three innings of work. Johnny Melero fell to 0-4 taking the loss after allowing six hits and an earned run in 2.2 innings.
Two more errors on Sunday for San Jose State gives them nine total in the series against UT Arlington. The Spartans were the WAC leaders in fielding percentage at .982 heading into the weekend.
SJSU had 10 hits in the game, three by Schulz and Matt Carroll added two of his own. Ricky Acosta and Jacob Valdez both saw their career-long hitting streaks end at 11 games.
Mavericks Ryan Walker and Justin Copeland matched teammates Shortall and Twichell with three hits in the game.
Up next, the Spartans host Texas State next weekend April 19-21 in another big WAC series at Municipal Stadium.