March 3, 2017
Lineup for the home opener vs UNLV. #omahaknows #sjsu #sjsuspartans
A post shared by San Jose State Baseball (@sjsubaseball) on Mar 3, 2017 at 6:36pm PST
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose State University baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a 6-5 comeback win in the conference opener against UNLV on Friday night.
It was the SJSU's third one-run win of the season and evened their season record to 4-4 and 1-0 in Mountain West conference play. The Rebels dropped to 4-6 (0-1 MW).
"Teams that win one-run games are teams that have character and don't give up and continue to fight," said Spartans head coach Jason Hawkins.
Down three runs in the bottom half of the seventh, Spartans shortstop Aaron Pleschner (1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs) played a key role in the inning driving home two runs with a bases loaded single to cut the SJSU deficit to one. Pleschner advanced to second on the centerfielder's throw.
With Pleschner at second and Corey Olivet (2-for-3, 2R) at third, Rebels reliever Christian Myers uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Olivet for the tying run and moving Pleschner to third.
Corey Wilson came in for Myers and threw a wild pitch, the fifth for the Rebels pitching staff in the evening, to score Pleschner for what turned out to be the winning run.
For Pleschner, it was redemption as his fielding error in the top of the fifth preceded a three run home run by Rebels first baseman Nick Ames, to put the Rebels up 5-2.
Spartans starter Josh Nashed had a solid outing, going six innings, striking out eight and allowing the first two walks of the season. Nashed gave up five runs but was charged with one earned run.
Cameron Keup (1-1) came in relief and pitched two shutout innings to earn his first win as a Spartan.
Joseph Balfour pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season.
SJSU hit a season-high 12 hits with four players with multiple hits. Shane Timmons was 3-for-5 and Joseph Stefanki, David Campbell and Olivet each with two hits apiece.
Game time for Saturday's game versus UNLV was moved up to 2:00 p.m. PT due to the weather forecast. Matt Brown (1-1, 4.35 ERA) will take the mound for the Spartans against UNLV's Larry Quaney (0-0, 1.38 ERA).