May 13, 2017
Lineup. #omahaknows #SJSU #sjsuspartans
A post shared by San Jose State Baseball (@sjsubaseball) on May 13, 2017 at 12:38pm PDT
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO - Spartans starter Jake Swiech allowed just two runs in 7.0 innings but SJSU lost a seesaw game, 3-2, walking home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game.
In the ninth with the game tied 2-2, Spartans reliever Josh Goldberg allowed three singles to load the bases. With one out, Zach Tanner was brought in from the bullpen and walked Harrison Bruce on four pitches to push the game winning run home for the Dons to make it 3-2.
USF evened its season record to 26-26 while SJSU fell to 16-33-1.
The game went back and forth with the Dons getting on the board first in the bottom of the third inning on a pair of doubles by Dan James and Matt Sinatro.
The Spartans came back in the fifth with a two out rally to tie it up 1-1. Shane Timmons (0-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB) drew a bases loaded walk to bring home Kellen Strahm (1-for-2, R, 2 BB). The next batter, Joseph Stefanki (1-for-3) struck out leaving three runners on base.
For the game, the Spartans left eight runners on base compared to three for USF.
After the Dons took the lead back in the sixth, 2-1, San Jose State had a golden opportunity in the seventh when it loaded the bases with no out. Kyle Morrison (1-for-4, R) and Strahm singled to open the inning, followed by Chris Williams (1-for-2, BB) getting hit by a pitch. However, the Spartans could only muster one run, again on a Timmons walk to push across a run, to tie it at 2-2.
A subsequent failed squeeze play resulted in both the second and third base runners getting caught in a run down to end the Spartans threat where the score remained 2-2 until the ninth when the Dons won it in walk off fashion.
The winning run was the third instance in the game that a run scored on a bases loaded walk.
USF's Benji Post (5-2) who pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth innings for the Dons was credited with the win. Goldberg (2-5) was saddled with the loss for the Spartans.
The series between SJSU and USF will head to San Jose on Mother's Day. The teams will play two more games at Municipal Stadium on Sunday, May 14 and Monday, May 15. The first pitch for both games are at 7:00 p.m. PT.