Feb. 17, 2018
San Jose, Calif.--- The San Jose State University baseball team split a doubleheader with Northern Colorado Saturday to improve to 2-1 on the season.
The Spartans won the nightcap, 11-10, overcoming an 8-1 deficit in the fifth inning and lost the first game, 12-7.
"We were down 8-1, but came up with four huge runs to answer," said San Jose State interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "We continued to believe, controlled our body language, and kept the energy up in the dugout."
Shane Timmons (2-for-5, 2 R, 3 RBI) had the big hit in a four-run bottom of the fifth for the Spartans, a two-RBI single with one-out drawing the Spartans to 8-3. He later scored the final run of the inning on a balk.
The Spartans scored six more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take an 11-8 lead. A Chris Williams (1-for-5, R, 2 RBI) single sent Aaron Pleschner (3-for-5, R) and Strahm home to bring the deficit to 8-7. The Spartans tied the game at 8-8 when Timmons scored on a balk for the second time in the game.
San Jose State took the lead when Kyle Morrison (5-for-1, R, RBI) singled to right field scoring Williams. Santiago Cantu and Kellen Strahm each walked with the bases loaded forcing in two more runs in the Spartans' decisive seventh inning.
Pitcher Walker Brinkman pitched 2.2 innings in relief to earn his first collegiate win.
"I was excited to pitch," said winning pitcher Walker Brinkman. "I listened to my teammates and they helped me get zoned in and figure things out. The dugout picked me up and helped me out a lot."
Redshirt junior Tevin Cadola struck out the only batter he faced, designated Evan Johnson, with two outs in the ninth for his first save of the season.
The Spartans lost the first game of the doubleheader, 12-7 despite a six-run seventh inning.
Kyle Morrison (5-for-3, R, 2 RBI) hit his first career home run in the second inning for a 1-0 Spartan lead. Northern Colorado took advantage of four Spartan pitchers in the fourth and fifth innings with four in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead and seven more in the fifth for an 11-1 lead. The Bears scored all seven runs with two outs aided by four walks and a pair of two RBI doubles.
Morrison and Aaron Pleschner (5-for-3, R, RBI) each had three hits for the Spartans. Morrison and Williams each drove in two runs in the opener.
Fineas Del Bonta Smith started for San Jose State and was the losing pitcher. He lasted 3.2 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits.
The final game of the four-game series against the Bears is Sunday at 12:00 p.m. inside Municipal Stadium.