Moraga, Calif. -- San Jose State let a seven-run lead slip away for a 9-8 loss in non-conference play against Saint Mary's College at Louis Guisto Field on Wednesday.
After the Spartans mounted an 8-1 lead with four consecutive scoring innings, the Gaels went for eight unanswered runs including a five-spot in the sixth inning.
"If you just look at the sixth inning, that's what killed us," said San Jose State head coach Dave Nakama. "The walks killed us again today just like they have all season long."
With an 8-1 lead in the sixth, Spartan reliever Daniel Chavez gave up a walk and a single followed by a hit batsman to load the bases with no outs. He walked the next batter DonAndre Clark on four pitches giving the Gaels their second run of the game and was then lifted in favor of Jason Kafka. The Gaels scored four more runs in the frame to cut SJSU's lead to 8-7. Brenden Kalfus, Collin Ferguson and Anthony Villa all had RBI-singles in the inning.
Kalfus struck again with an RBI-single in the seventh off Kyle Hassna giving the Gaels a 9-8 lead, completing a seven-run comeback. Saint Mary's scored all of its runs between the fourth and seventh innings.
Andre Mercurio, Tim Quiery and Jacob Valdez led the early charge for the Spartans. Mercurio tied a career high collecting three RBI on a 3-for-4 day as the leadoff hitter. Quiery had three hits, with an RBI and scored twice. Valdez tallied three hits and came around to score on each one, tying his career high in runs.
San Jose State had 13 hits through the first six innings and then went hitless for the remainder of the game. Thomas Cortese and Patrick Keane combined for four innings of one-hit ball out of the Saint Mary's' bullpen to close the game. Cortese earned the victory and is 1-0, while Keane got his fourth save of the season.
"We're trying to give guys the opportunity to pitch in a game like this and they aren't taking advantage," Nakama said. "Glawe did take advantage of his chance today with some good things to start the game."
Junior right-hander James Glawe made his first major-college start for the Spartans. He gave up three hits, no earned runs and struck out one in 3.0 innings.
San Jose State gets back to Western Athletic Conference action on Friday when they open up a three-game set with Louisiana Tech. Lefty David Wayne Russo (3-3, 4.06) will start for SJSU. First pitch Friday night at Municipal Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. PST.