April 22, 2018
San Jose, Calif. --- The San Jose State University baseball team (16-22) cruised to a 14-3 victory over non-conference opponent UC Riverside (15-19) in Sunday's rubber match at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Spartans won the series 2-1 after recording a 5-3 win in extra innings Saturday night.
"It was nice to get a strong pitching performance from Jake today," said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "Brett gave us some momentum early in the game. It was a good team win."
Brett Bautista had a career day against the Highlanders. The senior from Granite Bay, California homered in back to back innings recording six RBI's and scoring three runs. In the series against UC Riverside, Bautista went 8-for-16 (.500) with seven RBI from the number one spot in the hitting order.
The Spartans scored three runs in four separate innings.
Bautista got things started for the Spartans in the third when he hit a solo home run down the right field line with one out for a 1-0 lead. Then back to back to back singles with one out from Shane Timmons (3-for-6, 2R, 2RBI), Chris Williams (2-for-4, RBI), and Kyle Morrison (1-for-6, RBI) gave the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
Bautista would strike again in the fourth with a homer over the right field wall with one out. He plated Aaron Pleschner (3-for-5, 2R, RBI) and Connor Konishi (1-for-3, R) with the three-run shot to make it 6-0.
In the Spartan's sixth, Pleschner doubled to left center and advanced to third on a fielding error. Bautista, with the hot bat, singled up the middle and scored Pleschner from third. The Spartans would score two more runs off the bats of Timmons and Williams for a 9-0 lead.
San Jose State added three more insurance runs in the ninth when Kellen Strahm (3-for-5, 3R, RBI) singled through the left side and scored Sawyer Pittman (1-for-1, 2R). Williams reached on a fielding error with two outs from left fielder Houston Naucler and scored Timmons and Strahm for the 14-3 victory.
Also grabbing three hits on the day was catcher Johnny Mendoza. Mendoza went 3-for-5 and scored a run.
Jake Swiech (2-2) got his second win of the season after pitching five shutout innings against the Highlanders. The senior struck out a season-high five batters and walked one Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans will return home to face Mountain West opponent New Mexico Friday, April 27, at 6:00 p.m. inside Municipal Stadium.