March 9, 2014
San Jose, Calif. --- A four-run rally in the seventh inning gave San Jose State the edge for a comeback-victory over UC Davis on Sunday at Municipal Stadium. Despite being outhit 14-3, the Spartans used clutch base knocks they had gone begging for in recent games to beat the Aggies 4-3.
"We had some key hits today and that's really all we needed," said SJSU head coach Dave Nakama. "Guys came up with runners on and kept the inning going, and we came through with the hits we needed."
Consecutive walks issued to Matt Lopez and Sheldon Daquioag began the rally in the Spartans' seventh. Brett Bautista's hit to right field loaded the bases for Mike Simonini who turned a 1-2 count into a bases-loaded walk for SJSU's first run. Down 3-1, the next batter Alec de Watteville, delivered 2-run double over the head of UC Davis left fielder Seth Batty to tie the game.
Simonini scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run when the next batter, Tyler Olivet, hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
"That's baseball," Nakama said. "We only had three hits this game, but two of them were with guys in scoring position. Then you have to credit good pitching to hold that lead"
Freshman Jackson Berumen (1-0) took over for Jace Puckett in the third inning and earned his first win in a Spartans uniform. Berumen allowed six hits and one earned run over 4.2 innings and struck out three. Ross Slaney and Kalei Contrades (1) combined for two innings of shutout relief to close the game.
Contrades inherited a first-and-third situation with two outs in the eighth, but got out of it by striking out Aggies' leadoff man Batty looking. Contrades earned his first save in 2014 and the sixth of his career.
Orlando Razo (1-2) faced three batters in the seventh inning and did not record an out on the way to receiving the loss for UC Davis. Aggies starter Max Cordy allowed one hit and one run in 6.0 innings. He was lifted in favor of Razo after the leadoff walks to Lopez and Daquioag in the seventh.
San Jose State and UC Davis square off for the third and final time in 2014 on Tuesday afternoon in Davis, Calif. First pitch from Dobbins Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.