May 6, 2014
San Francisco, Calif. --- San José State got out to a slow start on offense which led to a 6-3 loss to San Francisco at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday afternoon.
The Spartans (16-34) managed only one hit in the first five innings of this year's final game between the two teams, which gave the Dons (22-25) a 2-1 series win.
USF on the other hand, scored four runs in the first two frames against SJSU starter Jace Puckett (0-4). The early scoring was highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Bob Cruikshank and Justin McCullough which gave the Dons a 4-0 lead.
Three runs in the top of the sixth put the Spartans right back in it. A leadoff single by Kyle Gallegos along with walks to Jacob Valdez and Matt Lopez loaded the bases for the sixth-place hitter Matt Carroll. Carroll belted one into left-center field bringing home Gallegos and Valdez to make it 4-2.
The next batter Brett Bautista hit a sacrifice fly to center which scored Lopez and gave the Spartans their third and final run.
Dons starter Grant Goodman (3-4) went 5 1/3 allowing three hits and three earned runs in the win. He also walked six and struck out four.
Two consecutive errors gave USF a run back in the bottom half of the sixth. Third baseman Mike Simonini made a throwing error to first base attempted to get Cruikshank at first. Then McCullough singled to left field where Tyler Olivet bobbled the ball which allowed the runner to score from first base.
USF's leading hitter Bradley Zimmer singled with runners on first and second to make it 6-3 in the eighth inning.
San José State moves forward with a Mountain West series, the last of 2014, on the road at Air Force beginning Friday at 2:00 p.m. PDT.
San Francisco 6, San Jose State 3 (May 06, 2014 at San Francisco)
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San Jose State...... 000 003 000 - 3 6 3 (16-34)
San Francisco....... 130 001 01X - 6 12 0 (22-25)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Puckett, Jace; SLANEY, Ross(3); WRIGHT, Michael(5); GLAWE, James(7)
and . San Francisco - GOODMAN, Grant; GRAFF, Ben(6); WEST, Logan(8); HIBBERD, Houston(9) and .
Win-GOODMAN, Grant(3-4) Save-HIBBERD, Houston(9) Loss-PUCKETT, Jace(0-4) T-2:40 A-115
HR USF - CRUIKSHANK, Bob (2); MCCULLOUGH, Justin (1).
Weather: Sunny, 60 degrees