SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball picked up a huge series win over 2019 Big East Champion Creighton as the Spartans defeated the Bluejays in walk-off fashion in the rubber match on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
Entering the eighth inning trailing by one at 6-5, sophomore outfielder James Shimashita dug in with two runners aboard and two outs. The San Diego product was down to his last strike when he lifted a popup to shallow left, however prior to the ball leaving his bat, a balk was called, giving him one last chance. He took the most of that opportunity by blasting a 3-run moonshot over the fence in right field to give SJSU an 8-6 win.
With the win all but wrapped up, it appeared as if it would be smooth sailing in the ninth for the Spartan Defense as they quickly recorded the first two outs. Creighton had different ideas, however, as they hit back-to-back homeruns to tie the game.
In the top of the ninth, SJSU kept the energy flowing as Johnny Mendoza led off the frame with a single through the right side of the infield, followed by a double by Troy Viola, his second of the game. Connor Konishi was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Dalton Bowling then nearly ended it, but just missed as he struck out swinging, bringing up Alec Ackerman. Ackerman didn't even have to lift the bat off the shoulder as he was struck by a fastball for the game-winning RBI.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 2-5 while Creighton drops to 3-3.
The game featured high-octane offense from the get-go. In the second inning, Creighton blasted two solo homers to take an early lead, but the Spartans responded with a 2-RBI single by Shimashita to tie the game. Shimashita finished the day with three hits and and five RBI.
Creighton struck for three more in the top of the third and one more in the fourth. Ackerman plated another Spartan run in the third with a sac fly to bring in Viola. The Spartans then scored two more in the bottom of the fourth as a sac fly by Mendoza and RBI double by Viola brought the score to 6-5. That was all the scoring until Shimashita's blast in the eighth.
The Spartans finished with nine hits as a team while Creighton tallied 11. Both teams left six runners aboard.
Spartan starter Sean Prozell worked the first two innings before giving way for Wesley Clawson, who went 4.0 innings with just two hits allowed and five strikeouts. Jonathan Wiltfang made his Spartan debut in the seventh inning with no hits allowed and paid to way for Nicholas Morales. Morales worked the final two innings and despite surrendering the two homers, picked up his first win of the season.
Creighton used six pitchers in the loss. Reliever John Sakowski (1-1) was charged with the loss after giving up the final four runs.
The Spartans return to action on Tuesday against the University of San Francisco. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. PT.