Feb. 23, 2017
Box Score
STOCKTON, Calif. - Shane Timmons hit a walk-off solo homerun in the 13th inning to help San Jose State University baseball team earn its first victory of the season, 3-2, against BYU on Thursday evening.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 13th, Timmons (2 for 5, 1 HR, 1 BB) blasted the first pitch from BYU reliever Mason Marshall over the left field wall to give first-year head coach Jason Hawkins his first win at San Jose State.
For the game, the Spartans (1-2) sent seven pitchers to the mound and held the Cougars (2-3) to two runs on 12 hits. Josh Goldberg (1-0) picked up the win for the Spartans shutting out the Cougars in the last three innings and allowing only one baserunner, a walk. BYU's Marshall (0-1) took the loss.
Jake Swiech started the game for the Spartans scattering six hits over 5.0 innings only allowing one run while striking out four and walking none. The six relievers following Swiech pitched eight innings allowing one run on six hits.
BYU starter Brady Corless was masterful, striking out 12 Spartans over 7 2/3 innings. Corless and the three Cougar relievers combined to strikeout 20 Spartans in the evening.
The score was tied at 1-1 going into the top of the ninth inning when Spartans' reliever Jaiden France walked two BYU batters in a row after getting a groundout to start the inning.
With runners at first and second, Zach Tanner came in relief and got Tanner Chauncey to fly out for the second out of the inning before turning the ball over to Joseph Balfour who was making his Spartan debut. Keaton Kringlen singled off Balfour to drive in a run from second to put the Cougars up, 2-1 heading to the ninth.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Spartans tied it up when designated hitter Josh Nashed legged out an infield hit to lead off the inning. Anders Davidson pinch ran for Nashed. Pinch hitter Kyle Blakeman, fought off BYU reliever Aaron Cross to draw a walk to put runners at first and second with no out. With the next two Spartans striking out, Aaron Pleschner hit a clutch RBI single to drive in Davidson to tie the game at 2-2.
The game remained tied at 2-2 until Timmons' walk-off homerun.
In the early game of the three team round robin format games, BYU shutout Northern Colorado, 6-0.
The second day of the round robin games start at 12noon PT between BYU and Northern Colorado, following by Northern Colorado vs SJSU at 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, February 24. The games will be played once again at Billy Hebert Stadium in Stockton. San Jose Municipal Stadium, home to the 2017 Spartans is unplayable due to recent rain.