By Lindsey Boyd:
The heavy storms couldn’t dampen San Jose State Baseball’s “opening” day against Birmingham Young University. While much of San Jose has been under water this week, the Spartans stayed dry by traveling more than 70 miles to play a league game against the Cougars.
The Spartans’ home Municipal Stadium may have been flooded, but Shane Timmons’ walkoff home run helped SJSU stay afloat in Stockton, winning 3-2 in 13 innings.
Coming off of two losses against UCLA, SJSU (1-2) started the game looking much the same against the Cougars (2-3). Following Kyle Morrison’s ground out, the next two Spartans went down on strikes.
BYU scored first after Jake Swiech was doubled home by Nate Favero in the fourth.
The Spartans continued their scoreless streak in the first four innings, but came back in the sixth after Chris Williams doubled to bring home Corey Olivet, tying the game 1-1.
The Cougars broke the tie in the ninth inning.
SJSU pitcher Jaiden France struggled in the final frame, giving up back-to-back walks. Joseph Balfour came in to relieve him, but promptly gave up an RBI single, allowing BYU to break the tie and take a one-run lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
The Spartans willed their way back into it.
Josh Nashed smashed a hit right away to start the ninth for the Spartans. The Cougars’ put themselves in a tough spot as Kyle Blakeman was walked to put a runner in scoring position.
Cross gave the Spartans no chance to get the tying run home and struck out the next two batters.
However, SJSU shortstop Aaron Pleschner turned the game around, singling into right field to bring home pinch runner Anders Davidson.
BYU starting pitcher Brady Coreless pitched nearly eight full innings before Cross replaced him. With the game tied 2-2, and the Spartans were headed into extra innings.
The adrenaline was running high throughout the 10th, 11th and 12th innings but neither team was about to get that elusive go-ahead run.
Timmons ended the drought in the 13th inning, blasting a solo home run — his first of the year — into left field to end the night.
SJSU used six pitchers after starter Jake Swiech’s five innings of one-run ball. Josh Goldberg picked up the win, but the pitching staff as a unit deserves most of the credit for the victory, giving up just two runs in 13 innings.
The Spartans will need to play at least three more games in Stockton until Municipal Stadium dries out from the flooding. They face Northern Colorado Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.
