April 15, 2018
Fresno, Calif. --- A five-run ninth inning by the San Jose State baseball team (14-20, 6-11 MW) led to a 10-7 win over Fresno State (21-14, 8-10 MW) at Bob Bennett Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Spartans' 2-1 weekend gives them their first conference series victory at Fresno since 2012.
"One thing about our team is that the guys support each other and want to win for each other," said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "This team could have quit when Fresno State went up one run in the eighth to take the lead. I'm proud of them, their effort, and their refusal to give in."
The Spartans were down 6-5 in the ninth until pinch hitter Kyle Morrison (1-for-1, R, RBI) singled through the left side scoring Chris Williams (2-for-3, 2R, RBI, 3BB) to tie the game, 6-6.
Aaron Pleschner then had the go-ahead hit when he singled to left field with one out driving home Connor Konishi (1-for-5, R, RBI) from third.
Pleschner was 3-for-4 with an RBI on the day. In the series against Fresno State, the junior from Redwood City, California was 5-for-11 (.455) with three RBI's.
Kellen Strahm (1-for-4, 2R, 2RBI, 2BB) then singled through the right side with two outs to drive Pleschner and Morrison home for the score to make it 9-6. Shane Timmons (1-for-4, R, RBI) capped the Spartan rally when he singled to right field and sent Brett Bautista (2-for-5, 2R, BB) to home plate for the 10-6 lead.
"Our goal is to play in the tournament," added Sanfilippo. "We won a series on the road against a good opponent in a tough place to play. We are getting better, and it is fun to see us compete against a quality opponent."
In the three-game series against Fresno State, Timmons was 7-for-13 with 9 RBI's. In the second game, he had the first two-homer game of the season with a two-run homer in the fourth, and a grand slam in the seventh gathering eight RBI's.
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (1-3) picked up the first win of his Spartan career. In three innings of relief, the junior pitched shutout innings in the sixth and seventh before yielding two runs in the eighth.
Tevin Cadola (1-2) started for the Spartans. Cadola pitched five innings and allowed one earned run striking out five batters.
Wesley Clawson closed out the game giving up a run in the bottom of the ninth.
The San José State baseball team will return home for a Tuesday night showdown against San Francisco at 5:00 p.m. (PT) inside Municipal Stadium.