May 19, 2016
SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Diego State scored in two of its first three trips to the plate and Dominic Purpura made it stick in a 5-0 defeat of San Jose State on Thursday night at Municipal Stadium.
The Spartans (16-37, 6-22 MW) saw the Aztecs (18-35, 10-18 MW) score a run in the second and three in the third and cruise to a shutout win in the first meeting of the season between the schools.
Purpura kept San Jose State off balance all night. He tossed a complete game shutout and scattered six hits over the 32 batters he faced. The junior southpaw's ability to pitch to contact was the key reason the contest lasted just one-hour, 59 minutes, as he didn't walk anyone and struck out just one.
Dillan Smith (1-2) picked up the first hit of the game for the Spartans in the third inning, but was quickly erased trying to steal second. Brendt Citta (2-3, double, hit by pitch) and Shane Timmons (1-3) laced back-to-back two-out singles in the fourth but were left aboard. Hunter Tidwell (1-2) and Michael Breen (1-3) rounded out the six-hit night.
Matt Brown (L, 2-7) got the start for San Jose State and rebounded from the early trouble to go 6.0 innings. He was tagged for the four runs on eight hits and walked a pair while fanning three.
Graham Gomez took over for Brown in the seventh and went the final 3.0 frames, allowing just a ninth-inning run in the process.
The series continues Friday at 6:00 p.m. from Municipal Stadium. Hilario Tovar will get the ball for San Jose State, and the Aztecs will call on Brett Seeburger.
Weather: 71 degrees, clear skies