SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball dropped a tough contest to Nevada Saturday night as they lost 3-2 in 11 innings in game two to drop the series. The Spartan offense continued to struggle with men in scoring position and left nine men on base.
Nevada jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning and held it until the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Kellen Strahm, playing his second to last game at Excite Ballpark, blasted a two-run shot to left field to tie the game. It was Strahm's team-leading sixth roundtripper of the season and first since returning from an injury that had sidelined him since mid-April.
Tevin Cadola, making his 12th start of the season, pitched a rock-solid game and bounced back from giving up a pair of early runs, though just one was earned due to an error. The senior worked eight innings with six strikeouts and scattered eight hits. He was lifted to start the ninth in favor of Fineas Del Bonta-Smith, who stranded a pair of runners in the ninth to help send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the 11th, however, the Wolfpack dealt what would be the winning blow as Tyler Bosetti blasted a solo home run for the decisive 3-2 lead. The Spartans put two on to start the home half of the 11th, but a pick off at second, flyout and strikeout ended the threat.
The Spartans left multiple runners on in three innings, included the eighth in which they left the bases loaded. They finished with six hits to the Wolfpack's 12. Strahm and Aaron Pleschner each went 2-for-5 to lead the way.
Nevada reliever Bradley Bonnenfant (6-3) picked up the win as the pitcher of record at the end of the game while Del Bonta-Smith (3-3) was charged with the loss.
SJSU drops to 19-31, 12-14 while Nevada improves to 27-24, 13-16.
The series finale between the Spartans and Wolfpack begins tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. The game is the designated Senior Day. San Jose State seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony that begins approximately 20 minutes prior to first pitch.
