April 17, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. - In what was a 3-3 ballgame entering the eighth, the New Mexico offense came alive and downed San Jose State by a score of 10-3 Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.
The Spartans (11-24, 4-14 MW) dropped the three-game set with the first-place Lobos (26-11, 14-4 MW) after taking Friday night's opener. New Mexico remained unbeaten in conference series this season.
San Jose State starter Josh Nashed did all he could to quiet the Lobos' offense on the afternoon, going the first 7.0 innings and holding the visitors to three runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking two late. Nashed ran into trouble on a few occasions but always seemed to come up with a big pitch when he needed one.
Nashed was relieved by Jonathan Hernandez to start the eighth with the game knotted at 3-3. Hernandez, who has been one of the Spartans' most effective pitchers this season, looked like he had stranded runners at second and third when he induced a two-out grounder by Reece Weber, but an error extended the inning and allowed the Lobos to take a 4-3 lead. They didn't stop there, though, as five unearned runs scored by the time the inning was over, all but erasing the Spartans' homes of pulling a series upset.
New Mexico added a pair of runs in the ninth off reliever Jake Swiech to reach double digit runs for the first time in the series and just the second time in six games against San Jose State.
In the bottom of the second, San Jose State struck first on Michael Breen's RBI single. Jared Holley's two-run shot in the top of the third quickly erased that lead, but the Spartans got it back with a tying run in the fifth and a go-ahead RBI single off the bat of Dillan Smith in the sixth.
Aaron Pleschner (2-3, walk), Brendt Citta (2-4, run), Hunter Tidwell (2-3, double) and Smith (2-4, run, RBI) led the 11-hit output. Ozzy Braff (1-4), Shane Timmons (1-4, run) and Breen (1-4, RBI) each collected hits. Braff and Timmons have each reached base in their last 23 contests, and Braff has hit safely in his last nine.
The Spartans make their first visit to the new Benedetti Diamond in San Francisco when they visit USF on Tuesday in a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.