SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State baseball put up a fight in the final inning, but was unable to bring across the tying run as the Spartans dropped the series finale with Utah Valley by a final of 1-0. The Spartans and Wolverines split the series 2-2 as SJSU dropped to 5-7 and Utah Valley improved to 3-9.
The Spartans rallied in the ninth beginning with a one-out single by Reece Hernandez, but he was putout on a fielder's choice for the second out. With a runner aboard, Drew Williams then laced a single to put two on for Dalton Bowling. The Wolverines made a pitching change as starter Mason Gray, who had tossed 116 pitches up to that point, was replaced by Pedro Perdomo. Perdomo was rattled early and put Bowling aboard via a walk to load the bases with two outs. Johnny Mendoza stepped in as the Spartans' last hope and put a 2-2 pitch into play, but it was swallowed up by the Utah Valley shortstop for the game-sealing putout.
SJSU entered the ninth with just three hits to that point and finished with five for the afternoon. Hernandez had two of those to lead the clubhouse.
Despite the loss, the Spartan pitching unit worked solid innings once again. Anders Davidson got the starting nod and worked the first 2.1 innings with four hits and the lone run allowed. Josh Caldwell made his Spartan debut to relieve him and worked a solid 3.2 innings with three hits allowed and three strikeouts. Corey Sanchez surrendered just one hit with two strikeouts in his two innings on the bump and Nicholas Morales rounded things out with a perfect top of the ninth. As a unit, the Spartan bullpen allowed just two hits over the final four innings.
Utah Valley finished with eight hits, led by first baseman Kade Poulsen's 3-for-4 afternoon. Gray picked up his first win of the season after an outstanding 8.2 innings with four strikeouts and five hits against. Perdomo tallied his first save of the year as well as Wolverine head coach Eric Madsen picked up win No. 300 for his career.
The Spartans have a quick turnaround ahead as they head to Moraga for a Tuesday nonconference mid-week matchup with Saint Mary's. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. PT.
