March 1, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Despite some sloppy defense and a five-run deficit heading into the home half of the ninth, San Jose State's baseball team had enough moxie to put six runs on the board and topple Pacific in walk-off fashion, 8-7.
The Spartans (4-5) trailed 6-0 at one point to the visiting Tigers (2-7), but put a run on the board in the fifth and again in the seventh before the six-run outburst in the ninth.
Down 7-2, San Jose State used four hits and four walks by three different Pacific pitchers to send the Municipal Stadium crowd home happy. After the first two runs of the inning scored on bases-loaded walks, Josh Nashed (1-4, run, walk, two RBIs) chose a good time to break into the hit column, as he laced a ball back up the middle to bring home Aaron Pleschner (1-1, run, walk, two RBIs) and Joe Stefanki (2-4, run). Brett Bautista (1-5, RBI) then lined one through the right side to tie up the game. With runners at the corners and still just one out, Shane Timmons (2-5, RBI) continued his hot streak by going right back up the box and scoring Nashed with the winning run.
Early on, it had the makings of a long night for San Jose State. Four errors on the night - including three in the second inning alone - and some timely hits allowed Pacific to put two runs in the second, one in the third and three more in the fifth before the Spartans were able to get on the board. The Tigers also added a run in the eighth to seemingly put the game on ice.
"We didn't play well. We had three errors in that one inning they scored two runs. We gave them their first three runs," said Spartans head coach Dave Nakama. "Even in the inning they scored three runs, they hit a leadoff double and then walk the bases loaded and they proceed to score three runs.
"We were fortunate that we had that opportunity at the end of the game. We definitely didn't deserve the game and didn't play well at all. Bottom line is you want to win, but I want our players to understand you don't just show up and win a game. You have to be ready from the start."
Graham Gomez was credited with his first career win for the Spartans. The junior left-hander took over for starter Ross Slaney in the fifth inning and worked the final 4.2 frames, allowing one run on four hits while fanning four and walking one.
San Jose State closes out the 10-game homestand when No. 20 Michigan invades Municipal Stadium Wednesday night in the first-ever meeting between the Spartans and Wolverines. Hilario Tovar gets the start on the mound for San Jose State, while Michigan has not yet announced its starter.