By Jonathon Schaffer — Reporter
The San Jose State men’s baseball team (6-16) lost both games against the San Diego State Aztecs (24-12) on Saturday, May 8 by scores of 17-3 and 10-6.
In game one, Aztecs quickly jumped to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first with doubles from redshirt senior outfielder Mike Jarvis and redshirt junior outfielder Matt Rudick. Back-to-back homers were then creased by redshirt sophomores catcher Wyatt Hendrie and first baseman Brian Leonhardt.
Just when Spartan sophomore pitcher Trevor Ernt thought he finally escaped this inning another home run would be added to the already long list of dingers by SDSU freshman utility Cole Carigg.
Spartans manager Brad Sanfilippo was then tossed very early after showing his frustrations from a questionable two-ball two-strike pitch call. It gave Carigg a chance to crush the third home run of the inning.
The second Inning did not fare any better for the Spartans as a double steal from redshirt freshman second baseman Caden Miller and Jarvis would make it 6-0. Then a balk from Ernt and an RBI single from Rudick would extend it to 7-0.
Ernt’s day ended rather quickly allowing eight runs in just one inning pitched.
SJSU senior pitcher Sean Prozell would come in relief allowing two more runs off a double from Aztec redshirt senior first baseman Jacob Cruce in the bottom of the second.
After the Spartans stranded loaded islands the Aztecs continued their surge extending their lead to 14-0 in the bottom of the third.
The Spartans finally got on the board with an RBI single from senior catcher Andrew Jurado but the Aztecs still led by 13 runs in the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth, a double from senior utility Reece Hernandez and a home run blast from junior first baseman Ruben Ibarra would shorten the lead to 11 runs for the Aztecs. It would be the ninth home run Ibarra has hit this season.
After three more runs from the Aztecs and a mercy rule set in place, the game would end early in the seventh inning.
The second game of the doubleheader started in the Spartans’ favor at the top of the third. After hitting his first single of the day freshman second baseman Jackson Forbes would score off a wild pitch. A sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Jack Colette extended the Spartans’ lead to 2-0 in the top of the third.
However, after two quick outs by SJSU sophomore pitcher Corey Sanchez, the Aztecs had a four-hit rally taking the lead and extending it 5-2.
The score would stay the same until the top of the fifth inning. The Spartans had a great chance to cut into San Diego State’s lead, but a strikeout on Colette would strand two runners on base.
In the bottom of the fifth Sanchez would be pulled after allowing a two-run blast to Hendrie. He would last 4.1 innings with six earned runs and five strikeouts.
In the top of the sixth after Spartan sophomore first baseman Dalton Bowling was walked, freshman Charles McAdoo splintered his first home run as a Spartan to cut the Aztecs’ lead by three.
The bottom sixth saw the SDSU bring in three more runs in response to make it 10-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top seventh sophomore first baseman Dalton Bowling was hit by a high pitch to the head and instantly fell down in pain.
The Spartans again had a chance with runners on base but a strikeout on McAdoo would extinguish any chance of cutting into the lead.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the ninth when senior second baseman Santiago Cantu—who came in for Bowling after his injury—smacked an RBI double to slim the lead at 10-6.
However, SDSU redshirt junior pitcher Jackson Flores was able to close out the game sweeping the Spartans in the Saturday doubleheader.
The Aztecs scored 27 total runs on the day. Jarvis had five total hits with 0 RBI and Hendrie had four hits, two of them home runs, with nine RBI.
San Jose State snagged 10 total runs on the day. Ibarra had two hits, one a home run and two RBI. McAdoo and Cantu, who broke into the lineup in only the second game, also had two RBI. McAdoo’s came off his two-run blast.
The Spartans are on the verge of being swept this weekend by SDSU on Sunday, May 9th at 1:00 pm at Tony Gwynn stadium.
Follow Jonathon on Twitter @jonny_schafer