San José, Calif. - Facing first-place San Diego State on the first day of its season, San José State faced plenty of challenges in Saturday's doubleheader at Excite Ballpark.
Nevertheless, the Spartans (1-1, 1-1 MW) came away with an impressive split against the visiting Aztecs (12-6, 7-4 MW) and ended the day with a dominant 12-7 victory in game two of the twin-bill.
"I was really happy with our effort today," said head coach Brad Sanfilippo after the contests. "It was competitive and we played hard. Spencer Long really set the tone there in game two, competing in the zone with multiple pitches. And then offensively I thought we took some really good swings off a good staff and a good starter."
SJSU secured 24 hits for the day and was led by senior Nelson Padilla (five hits), senior Jack Colette (four) and sophomore Robert Hamchuk (four).
San José State will return to action and go for the series win on Sunday afternoon against San Diego State. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at Excite Ballpark.
Singles - Game 1 (L, 6-4)
- The Spartans answered an early Aztec run with one of their own in the bottom of the first inning as Hamchuck drove in first baseman Ruben Ibarra with an RBI double to right center.
- The home team then took their only lead of the game in the home half of the fourth on an RBI single off the bat of Padilla.
- Hamchuk, Colette and senior Ruben Mercado all tallied a pair of hits in the game.
- Right-hander Jonathan Clark went five strong frames, striking out three while scattering five hits.
got 'em guessing!
— San José State Baseball (@SanJoseStateBSB) March 27, 2021
still square at 1-1 here at Excite.#SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/acKiGMhrpz
- Sophomore Corey Sanchez was the only other Spartan to toe the rubber, striking out a pair in four innings of work.
- SJSU ended the contest out-hitting San Diego State, 10-9.
Singles - Game 2 (W, 12-7)
- Padilla, Ibarra, Colette and Hamchuk all secured multi-hit games in the victory.
*colette, colette* ??@jackcolette22 with a lil three-RBI double to put us in front ?? pic.twitter.com/dufxnXzUwM
— San José State Baseball (@SanJoseStateBSB) March 28, 2021
- Padilla notched the team's first home run of the 2021 season, a solo shot to deep center field that doubled his team's advantage to 8-4 in the bottom half of the fifth.
- San José State scored multiple runs in the second (2), third (4) and sixth (4) innings.
- Long (1-0) made his season debut on the mound and earned the victory, allowing just three earned runs while striking out five in six innings of work.
- Senior Wesley Clawson (1) got the save, working three effective innings and allowing just one earned run.
- The 12 runs marks the program's first double-digit run output against San Diego State since Apr. 12, 2015 (won 11-1).
- In addition, this marks the program's first double-digit run output in an Opening Day game since Feb. 20, 2009 (15-5 vs. Saint Joseph's).