May 19, 2018
San Jose, Calif. --- Shane Timmons (2-for-5, R, 6RBI, HR) played his swan song in a 6-5 walk-off win against Air Force (24-29, 12-16 MW) Friday night at Municipal Stadium to punch San Jose State's (25-28, 15-14 MW) ticket to the Mountain West tournament.
"You can't draw it up any better than what Shane did for himself," said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "He will leave a legacy on this baseball program after he leaves. Great players make their mark in big times."
The senior from Mission Viejo, California singled to right center with one out and the bases loaded to plate the game-winning run for the 6-5 win.
Timmons was responsible for all six of San Jose State's runs Friday night. In the bottom of the third, he hit a grand slam to left field for the 26th home run of his career to take a 4-0 lead. Timmons broke John Fagan's career record of 25, set nearly 20 years ago, to become San Jose State's all-time home runs leader with 26.
The Falcons battled back against the Spartans in the top of the fifth. Mountain West home run leader, Nic Ready, fired a three-run shot over the left field wall with two outs to bring the Falcon deficit to one run at 4-3.
Air Force then tied the game up 5-5 when Drew Wiss doubled to left field in the top of the seventh.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Aaron Pleschner (1-for-2, 2R, BB) was walked, Brett Bautista (2-for-5, R) singled through the right side, and Kellen Strahm (3-for-4, R, BB) was intentionally walked to load the bases and set the stage for Timmons' storybook walk-off victory.
"I haven't this much fun coaching in a long time," Sanfilippo added. "They support each other, and they never give up. I'm excited to watch them celebrate because they deserve it and they have earned it."
Andrew Mitchel (6-1) pitched 6.0 innings and had nine strikeouts against the Falcons. In Mitchel's two starts against Air Force this season, he has racked up 18 strikeouts to two walks along with two earned runs.
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (5-3) recorded his fifth win the season after striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning to help the Spartans clinch a spot in the MW tournament.
The Spartans will honor the team's eight seniors tomorrow in a ceremony starting at 11:40 a.m. First pitch will start at 12:00 p.m. at Municipal Stadium.