May 2, 2014
San Jose, Calif. --- In his second consecutive Friday night start, Kalei Contrades (3-2) backed up his stellar performance from a week ago by allowing two earned runs in 8 1/3 innings of work and guiding San Jose State to a 3-2 victory over Fresno State in Mountain West action.
"It was always my dream to go on Friday night," Contrades said. "I finally got the opportunity and it feels good. I just tried to get ahead of their hitters and that's what worked for me."
Contrades struck out four in the Spartans' first win on a Friday night since Opening Day, and their fifth win in a row against the Bulldogs (24-23, 11-14 MW) dating back to 2012.
"We made more plays defensively and it was a good pitching performance by Kalei," said SJSU head coach Dave Nakama. "I thought it was a great job by Myles (Richard) there in the end too."
With a 3-1 lead, Contrades allowed consecutive base hits to start the top of the ninth inning. After a bunt put the runners on second and third, righty reliever Myles Richard entered in and retired the next two batters to end the game. His first batter Trent Woodward hit a sacrifice fly to center making it 3-2, but Richard fanned Jake Stone on a 1-2 pitch to shut the door and earn his second save.
Each team put a run on the board in the fourth inning. A two-out RBI-single by Fresno State's Brody Russell scored the game's first run.
The Spartans (15-32, 8-17 MW) answered right back in the bottom half of the fourth. Sheldon Daquioag took a leadoff walk and tied the game two batters later when Matt Carroll lined a single to left-center.
Carroll came back for more in the sixth, leading off with a double on a ball he hit to the wall in left-center, again. Then, a fielding error by Bulldogs' shortstop Jesse Medrano and a walk to Mike Simonini loaded the bases for Andre Mercurio, who ripped a single to right-center field that gave SJSU a 3-1 lead.
Tim Borst (3-3) pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing eight hits and two earned runs in the loss.
"Fresno State is a good team," Nakama said. "They're well coached and they're tough. We have to go right back out tomorrow and play well."
The two teams meet for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Municipal Stadium. Left-hander Jonathan Hernandez (0-5, 4.67) will face Fresno State's righty Jordan Brink (3-2, 2.77).