SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball dropped game two against Loyola Marymount on Saturday, falling by a final of 8-3 as the Lions clinched the three-game series.
The Spartan offense continued to struggle with producing runs, especially with runners in scoring position. For the second-straight night, SJSU left 10-plus men on base and finished 3-for-17 with runners aboard.
Troy Viola continued to shine at the plate with another multi-hit evening, including a solo homerun to lead off the second inning and put the Spartans up 1-0 early. The roundtripper was the first of the senior's season. The Bend, Oregon, product also plated SJSU's second run with a RBI single in the third.
LMU (7-8) answered Viola's second inning knock with a homer of their own, a 3-run shot, in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead. They plated another on a RBI double in the fifth and scored again on a wild pitch in the eighth.
Jack Colette (2-for-4) chipped into the 6-2 deficit in the home half of the eighth with a RBI single of his own, but that was all the damage SJSU could do. LMU scored two more unearned runs in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch and walk, both with the bases loaded.
SJSU (5-10) got one last crack at things to try climb back in after two-straight walks to open the ninth inning, however LMU closer Matt Voekler took the bump and struck out the side to end the contest.
Spartan starter Kevin Kyle (0-2) was solid in his first two innings before surrendering the four runs in the third inning. He calmed down and worked a perfect fourth inning, but was then forced to sit in the dugout as the Heavens opened up and forced a rain delay that lasted just over 1:05. Out of the extended break, the Lions jumped out with a walk and RBI double that chased Kyle from the contest. He was replaced by Ben Polack.
Polack led a five-player relief effort that combined for just two hits against and three runs, one earned.
Viola and Colette's two hits led the way for the Spartan offense, which finished with seven hits compared to six for the visiting Lions.
LMU reliever Merrick Baldo (1-1) picked up the win, working 4.0 innings with two hits and one run allowed against five strikeouts.
The Spartans will look to salvage the series tomorrow at noon.
