Baseball Avoids Series Sweep in 11-8 Win Against Cal Poly
SAN JOSE, CalifThe Spartans pitched eight scoreless innings, then allowed eight runs to score in the top of the ninth before retiring the side in Sunday's 11-8 win over Cal Poly (8-5-1) at Municipal Stadium. The win saved San Jose State (5-2) from be
| Kevin Frandsen hit a three-run home run on Sunday, his second of the season. |
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| SJSU vs. Cal Poly Box Score |
San Jose State’s Matt Durkin (1-0, 5 innings, six hits, four runs, five walks and four strikeouts) pitched five innings in relief of starter Don Gemmell (3 innings, four hits, two walks and one strikeout) to get the win and Andy Cook (2/3 inning, 0 hits, 0 runs) closed out the ninth to get his first save of the season. Cal Poly’s Quinn McGinnis (2 2/3 innings, seven hits, seven runs, two walks and two strikeouts) took the loss for the Mustangs.
Durkin looked strong through five, but opened the ninth inning with three straight walks before being replaced by Mickey Manzo (1/3 inning, one hit, four runs and two walks). The Mustangs would take advantage of the Spartans’ pitching errors, scoring four runs and loading the bases for shortstop Scott Anderson. Anderson cleared the bases with his first home run of the season, a grand slam, to pressure the Spartans. Cook would come into the game with one out and retire the last two batters for the save.
Despite the late game rally from Cal Poly, Spartan head coach Sam Piraro was pleased with the win. "Overall we played a real solid game and showed patience at the plate. Our game plan was to be more selective about our pitches, build the count in our favor and use the whole field. Today we did the things we needed to do."
The Spartans opened the scoring with a two-run single from right fielder Travis Becktel (2-for-3, one run, two RBI and one walk) in the second. With two outs in the third, the Spartans added two runs on four consecutive singles. With two men on, sophomore Kevin Frandsen (1-for-3, one run, three RBI, home run and one walk) cleared the bases on his second home run of the season to give the team a 7-0 lead.
San Jose State center fielder Dino Quintero (1-for-5, one run, one RBI) hit a solo home run in the sixth and Cal Poly’s Nick Doan would balk in another run. The Spartans would two more runs in the seventh to take an 11-0 lead into the ninth.
The Spartans will then hit the road for seven games beginning Tuesday against San Francisco and then will travel to UC Santa Barbara for three games on Feb. 15-17.