FRESNO, Calif. – San Jose State baseball scored just two runs on three hits, but it was enough to do the job as the Spartans evened the series 1-1 at Fresno State with a 2-1 victory Saturday night at Bob Bennett Stadium.
SJSU starting pitcher Tevin Cadola improved to 4-0 on the season with a solid outing on the mound. The senior from Yreka, California, gave up just one run and scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings while striking out six. Fellow senior Fineas Del Bonta-Smith pitched the final two innings with just one hit allowed as he picked up save No. 5.
The Spartans (13-9, 7-4) struck first in the second inning as James Shimashita scooted home from third on a wild pitch. A RBI single by Bulldog McCarthy Tatum knotted the game at 1-1 in the third inning, but SJSU struck back in the fourth. Nick Knecht laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached safely on a scoring error by the third baseman. Johnny Mendoza took advantage of the error as he scored from third to give the Spartans the 2-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs (10-6, 2-3) committed three errors in the game while SJSU was spotless in the field. Fresno State starting pitcher Nikoh Mitchell was solid in his 6.0 innings on the mound giving up just two hits and issuing three walks, but responsible for both runs and was charged with the loss.
The rubber match between the Spartans and Bulldogs will be played Sunday at 1:00 p.m. PT.
