May 10, 2016
MORAGA, Calif. - Josh Nashed's bases-loaded triple in the fourth inning provided San Jose State all the runs it needed on Tuesday, as the Spartans topped Saint Mary's, 4-1, at Louis Guisto Field.
The Spartans (16-33) grabbed their first win over Saint Mary's (26-20) since the 2014 campaign, and finished 5-7 in midweek games this season. The Gaels entered the week in first place in the West Coast Conference and in the hunt for an automatic or at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Saint Mary's held a 1-0 after three, but the Spartans were able to put together a four-run fourth inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Joe Stefanki led it off with a double over the center fielder's head, and an Ozzy Braff walked and Brendt Citta single loaded the bases. Josh Nashed then lifted a ball into the right center gap that looked like it had a chance to be caught, but a miscommunication between the Gaels' center and right fielders allowed it to fall in safely and Nashed to clear the bags with a triple. Michael Breen followed up with a base knock up the middle to score Nashed and give the Spartans a 4-1 lead.
San Jose State collected eight hits on the afternoon, led by Hunter Tidwell's 2-for-4 day. Aaron Pleschner (1-4), Stefanki (1-4, double, run), Shane Timmons (1-4), Brendt Citta (1-3, run, walk), Nashed (1-4, run, triple, three RBIs) and Michael Breen (1-4, RBI) added hits.
On the mound, five different pitchers combined to hold the Gaels to one run - the fewest by a Spartan opponent this season - and four hits.
SMC got an RBI single from Anthony Gonsolin in the bottom of the first against starter Matt Brown, but the Spartan right-hander rebounded to post a scoreless frame in his second and final inning of work.
Zach Wallace (W, 3-3) took over in the third and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief. The Gaels loaded the bases with one out and made Wallace labor in the fifth, but he struck out Anthony Gonsolin and got Brett Rasso to fly out to center in consecutive at-bats.
From there, Logan Handzlik and Zach Tanner worked the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, and Graham Gomez (S, 2) went the final 2.0 to notch a save. The four relievers combined to yield just two hits over the final 7.0 innings.
San Jose State travels to Long Beach State to take on the Dirtbags in a nonconference set this weekend.