San Jose, Calif. - San Jose State baseball allowed CSU Bakersfield to score 12 times in the final two innings of a 14-6 Western Athletic Conference loss on Saturday at municipal Stadium.
With a 6-3 lead the Roadrunners had the first eight batters of the ninth inning reach base safely. The Spartans committed two errors, hit two batters and walked another as part of an eight-run rally by CSU Bakersfield. Chance Gubseth and Kevin Younger each collected two-run hits in the inning, and because of errors none of the eight runs were earned.
SJSU matched a season-high with four errors in the game.
"We hit the leadoff guy in that inning and then just couldn't make plays after that," said San Jose State head coach Dave Nakama. "It's a reflection of the way we've played all season. We had a lead with six outs to go and then allow a big inning."
14 of the combined 24 hits in the game came after the sixth inning.
Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Andre Mercurio singled and scored the game-tying run on Matt Carroll's base hit to left field. Carroll would eventually come around to score two batters later on a wild pitch that gave SJSU the 3-2 advantage.
Kyle Hassna made his second start of the year for the Spartans. He threw six strong innings allowing three hits and two runs while striking out six. Cael Brockmeyer hit an RBI-double in the fourth after an error, and Gubseth scored in the fifth making it 2-1, when he was awarded home plate after the throw from the outfield trickled into the Spartan dugout. Niether runs off of Hassna were earned.
San Jose State got three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 12 unanswered that CSU Bakersfield had just scored.
CSU Bakersfield starter Scott Brattvet improved to 9-1 on the year with the win. He pitched eight innings allowing 10 hits, two earned runs while striking out five.
"It's sad because we had a great chance of winning this game and we kind of just gave it away," said Nakama. "We get one more chance at them tomorrow."
San Jose State's loss paired with Seattle U's win on Saturday means the Spartans will play Sunday for all the marbles. A win gives the Spartans a spot in the WAC Championship Tournament next week while a lose keeps them out of the WAC Tourney picture for the second straight season.
Right-hander D.J. Slaton (3-7, 4.34) will start for SJSU against CSU Bakersfield's lefty Jonathan Montoya (3-3, 3.99). First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.