SAN FRANCISCO – San Jose State baseball plated three runs in the first inning, but was held scoreless the remaining eight as the Spartans were defeated 6-3 by USF in a Tuesday night nonconference contest at Benedetti Diamond.
Despite the loss, SJSU was able to get their bats going again to the tune of nine hits. Kellen Strahm led the way with a 2-hit night and was one of eight Spartan starters to tally a hit.
The Spartans used a three-run opening inning to take a 3-0 lead to the bottom of the fourth inning when the Dons took a 4-3 lead. Richard Kabasinskas hit a single through the left side of the infield to plate the first two runs. One batter later, Santiago Cantu plated Kabasinskas on a RBI single of his own.
The lead would last for three innings as the Spartan pitchers worked three hitless innings. Justin Watland made his first start of the season for SJSU and worked the first inning with a perfect frame with a strikeout. He was relieved by freshman Ben Polack to start the second. Polack worked two solid innings before the Dons' bats came to life in the fourth inning and plated four runs to take a 4-3 advantage.
Zach Wallace took the bump with one out in the fourth and induced a double play to end the rallying inning. Two innings later, San Francisco tacked on two more runs on a two-run home run by Jacob Westerman.
SJSU nearly plated a run in the eighth inning as Troy Viola doubled to right field with Santiago Cantu standing on first. Cantu advanced to third and attempted to score, however he was cut down at the plate to end the threat and end the inning. The Spartans left seven men on base.
Polack (1-2) was charged with the loss while Dons' starter Julian Washburn improved to 6-0 after working 4.1 innings in relief duty.
The Spartans return home to Municipal Stadium this weekend for a conference series vs. New Mexico Friday through Sunday. First pitch for Friday's opener is slated for 6:00 p.m. PT.