May 12, 2015
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Jonathan Hernandez turned in perhaps the best outing of his career and Ross Slaney wasn't far behind out of the bullpen, but San Jose State's baseball team dropped a 2-1 decision to crosstown rival Santa Clara in 11 innings Tuesday night.
Hernandez, a junior left-hander, came within an out of matching his season high of 6.0 innings pitched and scattered just two hits while fanning a career-high five in the process. The Wilmington, Calif., native faced the minimum through four innings and was just one over after five before running into trouble in the sixth.
Slaney, a righty and fellow junior, relieved Hernandez in the sixth with two on and two out and struck out the Broncos' best hitter, Jose Vizcaino, Jr., to get out of the jam. Slaney (1-3) would go on to become the tough-luck loser despite tossing 4.1 innings and allowing just two runs on two hits.
"They pitched well," said Spartans' head coach Dave Nakama. "The pitching was better, but you have to be able to play in big spots and we're just not good enough in those spots."
San Jose State (12-41) collected nine hits and stranded 14 runners on base while Santa Clara (25-26) recorded only four hits and left five aboard.
Dillan Smith (2-4, hit by pitch, RBI), Joe Stefanki (2-5, run) and Chris Williams (2-5) had multi-hit evenings for the Spartans. Brett Bautista (1-6), David Campbell (1-4, double, walk) and Turtle Kuhaulua (1-4, hit by pitch) also added hits.
The Spartans left runners aboard without scoring in each of the first five frames, including a bases-loaded situation in the second. They finally broke through with a run on Smith's two-out single to left in the sixth that brought home Stefanki.
The 1-0 lead didn't last long, however, as the Broncos answered with a run in the top of the seventh to tie it up. Jake Brodt laced a two-out double to left field and reached third on the play thanks to a Spartan error. After a walk to TC Florentine, a pair of wild pitches plated Brodt with the tying run.
San Jose State again left the bases full in the bottom of the 10th, only to see Santa Clara push across the winner in the 11th on a fielder's choice and error that had a chance to be an inning-ending double play.
Tuesday night marked the second 2-1 loss for the Spartans at the hands of the Broncos after San Jose State fell by the same tally at Stephen Schott Stadium last month.
The Spartans host UNLV in the final series of the regular season Thursday through Saturday.