Strong Spartan start spoiled in 5th

By Max Miller — Reporter

The San Jose State baseball team took the loss to the University of California by a score of 18-10 in Berkeley. The Spartans jumped all over the Cal pitching staff by mounting an early 9-0 lead. SJSU scored one run in the second from a home-run from senior outfielder Jack Colette. 

In the fourth inning the Spartans poured it on by scoring eight runs. SJSU combined timely hitting and great plate discipline in order to have this incredible inning. The first run of the inning was knocked in by sophomore first baseman Dalton Bowling via single to right field. After two more batters sophomore Nik Trapani and senior Ruben Mercado worked back-to-back bases loaded walks to plate two more runs. 

After a sacrifice fly from freshman Jackson Forbes and an RBI single from senior Reece Hernandez, junior star Ruben Ibarra stepped up to the plate and hit a 3-run blast to right field to blow the game wide open.

After not allowing the Golden Bears to score in the bottom of the fourth SJSU looked to be in cruise control. This unfortunately was not the case as Cal would respond with an 11 run inning in the bottom of the fifth. Cal began the scoring with a 2-run-home run and continued in the inning with timely hits and drawing walks that scored more baserunners. SJSU was able to get two outs in the inning but an error that led to Cal’s sixth run of the inning allowed the inning to continue. 

Eventually the score was 9-7 and senior infielder Quentin Selma stepped up with the bases loaded for Cal. Selma smashed a grand slam to right center which gave the Golden Bears the lead.

SJSU was able to get its tenth  run from a sacrifice fly from freshman Charles McAdoo but the Golden Bears shut down the Spartan offense the rest of the way.


Cal added to its lead with two runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth. 

The Spartans will look to get back on track this weekend with a three game series at San Diego State. First pitch of game 1 on Saturday will be at 1 p.m.

Follow Max on Twitter @SJSUMaxMiller

Written by