SAN JOSE, Calif. – Junior infielder Troy Viola laced a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift San Jose State baseball to a 5-4 walk-off win over UC Riverside in the series rubber match on Sunday at Municipal Stadium.
Tied 4-4 heading into the ninth inning, Kellen Strahm led off the frame with a base hit up the middle and Blake Berry moved him up to the second on a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk put Johnny Mendoza on first, James Shimashita loaded the bases on an infield single.
Two batters later, Viola turned on a 1-2 count fastball and lined it perfectly into the left-center gap for the game-winning hit. Viola, a newcomer from Glendale CC, had a career day at the plate going 4-for-4 with two RBI, a double and a pair of stolen bases.
Tevin Cadola got the start on the mound for SJSU (5-2) and was rock-solid in 5.2 innings of work. He finished with nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits while walking five. However, the right-hander was pulled in the sixth after recording the first two outs and walking a pair. Jonathan Clark took the mound in relief looking to get the final out, but surrendered a three-run homerun to Matt Hardy, who gave the Highlanders the 4-2 lead.
The Spartans got a run back in the seventh inning by way of Strahm scoring on a wild pitch. In the eighth inning, it was Viola who took advantage of a walk by stealing both second and third to put the tying run 90 feet from the plate. Freshman Nico Malbrough laced a bloop single with two outs that plated Viola for the tying run.
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (1-0) was one of four Spartan relievers that worked the final 3.1 innings. Bonta-smith took over in the eighth with two runners in scoring position and one out, but shut the door with a pair of strikeouts. The senior returned in the ninth and worked around a pair of singles to set up the offense in the bottom of the inning. He picked up his first win of the season after 1.2 innings of work with two hits allowed and two strikeouts.
Strahm finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with a RBI, stolen base and scored a run while Shimashita had a pair of hits. Connor Cannon led the Highlanders with two hits, including a solo home run.
Kevin West (0-2) was charged with the loss after being responsible for the game-winning hit.
The Spartans will return to the diamond Tuesday against Saint Mary's at 3:00 p.m.
