ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – San Jose State baseball fell just short of tying the series against New Mexico falling 7-6 Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field. The Spartans led for 8.2 innings, but a throwing error allowed two runs to score in the bottom of the ninth.
Leading 6-5 with two outs in the ninth, SJSU looked to close the game as a third baseman Troy Viola fielded a routine ground ball, however his throw to first came up short and got away from Nick Knecht allowing both runners at third and first to score the tying and winning runs.
The Spartans (6-4) jumped out to a 4-1 lead through innings. Johnny Mendoza plated the game's first run in the first inning on a RBI single. SJSU struck for three more in the second. Nico Malbrough started it off with a RBI single, Alex Davis scored from third on a wild pitch, and Malbrough scored himself on a fielder's choice.
The Lobos bounced back with one run in the home half of the second and scored three more on back-to-back two-out singles in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4. New Mexico took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on another 2-out single.
SJSU responded in the seventh as Kellen Strahm scored on a fielding error and regained the lead in the eighth on a RBI single from Aaron Pleschner. The Spartans finished with 15 hits to the Lobos' nine.
Spartan starting pitcher Tevin Cadola scattered six hits over 5.0 innings of work while allowing four runs, three earned. Reliever Fineas Del Bonta Smith (1-1) was charged with the loss after being responsible for both unearned runs in the ninth. Josh Zanger also saw time on the mound allowing two hits in 2.1 innings.
Connor Konishi had an outstanding day in the box finishing 4-for-5 with a run scored. Malbrough and James Shimashita each had a pair of hits.
New Mexico reliever Malachi Emond (1-1) picked up the win as the pitcher of record. Starter Nathaniel Garley allowed 12 hits and five runs, four earned, in 6.0 innings.
The final game of the series will be played tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. PT.
